More emails from May 20 2011
I've received a response, worthwhile taking things to the top.
Dear Mr *****,
I acknowledge receipt of your e-mail. I have asked Joel Carre, my Head of Communities, who manages this area to consider the points you have raised and look into the matter for me. We will respond shortly.
Regards
Stewart Briggs
Executive Director of Environment
and Sustainable Communities
Bedford Borough Council
01234 228283
Sent: 20 May 2011 09:04
To: Stewart Briggs
Subject: FW: Forty Foot Lane
Dear Mr Briggs,
I enclose a previous email sent to Adrian Fett & Martin Brawn, to which I have not received a reply, together with a photograph of Forty Foot lane taken last Sunday.
Surely this repeated use of TRO to keep this lane closed is illegal? The reason for the closure is quite simply nonsensical.
I await your response.
Yours Sincerely,
Sent: 12 May 2011 09:24
To: 'adrian.fett@bedford.gov.uk'
Cc:
martyn.brawn@bedford.gov.uk
Subject: Forty Foot Lane
Dear Mr Fett,
How do you justify the continued illegal use of TRO without referral to the Secretary of State to maintain the closure of Forty Foot Lane to vehicular traffic?
“ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14
BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
(KNOTTING AND SOULDROP: PART OF BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC NO 10 AND
WYMINGTON: BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC NO 8 (FORTY FOOT LANE)
(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC) ORDER 2011
Notice is hereby given that the Bedford Borough Council have made an Order the effect of which will be
to prohibit any person driving any mechanically propelled vehicle or any horse drawn vehicle along Forty
Foot Lane: Part of Souldrop: BOAT NO 10 and Wymington: BOAT NO 8 which extends from Plain Pond
at Ordnance Survey Grid Reference (OS GR) SP 9613 6117 (Map point A) for approximately 2240
metres to its junction with Public Footpath No 4 Knotting and Souldrop at (OS GR) SP 9783 6255 (Map
point B).
This closure is required to prevent serious damage to the lanes which would be likely if they
were used by vehicles during the present conditions. The closure is expected to continue to take
place from 1 May 2011 for up to six months.
The above lanes will remain open to pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists.
The Order will come into operation on 1 May 2011 for a period not exceeding six months.
For further information please contact Adrian Fett, Tel: 01234 228335
Dated 21 April 2011
Borough Hall Stewart Briggs
Cauldwell Street Executive Director for Environment
Bedford MK42 9AP and Sustainable Communities”
You cite the reason as prevention of “serious damage during the present conditions” We have just had the warmest and driest April on record, all lanes are both dry and their surfaces hard. How is a vehicle going to damage the lane by driving it?
This lane has now been closed for over 3 years. Bedfordshire Council is not complying with their statutory legal responsibilities.
Maybe I should reduce my road fund license by x amount, as x amount of local right of way have been unavailable to drive because the council have failed to maintain them. Could you imagine them saying sorry chaps the M1 is TRO'd because it’s awfully expensive to maintain, so we have taken away the legal right of way away because we have had cuts and we have not budgeted for it.
I await your reply,
Yours Sincerely,
