Voluntary Restraint – Copehill Down (Salisbury Plain).

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Voluntary Restraint – Copehill Down (Salisbury Plain).

The byways within the Shrewton/Tilshead/Chitterne (Copehill down village FIBUA) triangle are now subject to voluntary restraint in order to prevent further deterioration while the ground is waterlogged. These byways were previously subject to a temporary traffic regulation order (TRO) last winter that made use by vehicles with three or more wheels a criminal offence.

Using these byways with a motor vehicle remains lawful but any surface damage caused could lead to a charge of criminal damage and/or permanent closure. The area will be monitored (particularly over the Christmas period when use by vehicle groups is very popular) in order to gauge both the effectiveness of VR and the types of vehicle users who choose to ignore it. Although solo motorcycles have once again excluded from this winter byway management we strongly discourage their use in order that the ground be allowed to ‘rest and recover’.

If you must cross Copehill Down during this period of VR we recommend using the all-weather tracks (AWT) instead. AWT are ‘made-up’ military roads that the public may use during periods of range inactivity providing it is done in accordance with any signs, flags and the respective range bylaws. Range bylaws can be found on the many white, rectangular signs that dot the periphery of the training area).

Byways subject to VR are marked in blue on the attached map.
All-weather tracks are marked in green on the attached map.
Example photos of range signs, red warning flags and range bylaws are also attached. VR signs are due to be erected this Saturday 19th December.

Please call Plainwatch on 01980 674700 to report illegal activity or check the legality and safety of public access to any given right of way or AWT within the training area.

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.

Thanks for posting this. We nearly lost this section of the plain for good last Christmas; if we see a repeat of the massed abuse of the route and off-piste "play" this year Wilts CC and the MOD will inevitably consider permanent closure.

All VRO signs are now confirmed in place, with additional signage from Tread Lightly.

all of the soft Plain byways are presently in a terrible state and restraint is requested on all routes. We run a very real risk of permanent closure of some of these routes so please spread the word.

A large exercise has just been conducted on SPTA with Copehill down playing a big part in the final attack. I think the RoW office in Trowbridge would struggle to permanently close the byway. I was on SPTA last week and the damage caused in that area is not attributable to the off road crowd but rather the Mastiff's Husky's Warriors, CVRT's ect.

Whilst we must exercise voluntary restraint they will never close it, once the ground has recovered it will return to the dust bowl that we know and love.

Are there still any routes that arnt the road/tracks that arnt vor, as we'd had a trip planned for ages and we don't want to call it off, nor damage any lanes?

The road from Warminster to Gore Cross and Heytesbury to Bratton is open.

Get hold of a good 1:25000 map, use the Wiltshire Rights of Way online and just be responsible when you get to byways. If it looks waterlogged don't drive it.

Pillar said:

The road from Warminster to Gore Cross and Heytesbury to Bratton is open.

Get hold of a good 1:25000 map, use the Wiltshire Rights of Way online and just be responsible when you get to byways. If it looks waterlogged don't drive it.

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Ok thanks, yeah I've already got a map, usually we just get to the plain and follow the signs, I was just worried about getting there and seing that all the usual routes we take have vor's on.

I was on the plain last week and in places it wasn't too bad. Many of the tracks have metalled roads nearby so if the byway is in a poor state of repair then utilise those.

The tracks north of Copehill down IVO J crossing are extremely waterlogged hence the VR.