A LOBBYING group, which formed in November, is making in-roads to rid the Dales of off-road vehicles.

And news that the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and North Yorkshire County Council is considering imposing temporary traffic regulation orders on four green lanes in the national park area, has strengthened the group's resolve further.

Its aim is "to campaign for the exclusion of motorised vehicles, driven or ridden for pleasure, from the green lanes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)."

Its interpretation of green lanes is bridleways, restricted byways, roads used as public paths, byways open to all traffic (BOAT), and all unsealed tracks.

At its first annual meeting this week, the Yorkshire Dales Grass Lanes Alliance, which has columnist and environment campaigner Janet Street Porter as one of its allies, outlined the progress already made.

Speaking at the Octagon Theatre in Grassington, chairman Michael Bartholomew said he was pleased that the national park and county council were looking at the experimental traffic regulation orders. However he appreciated it was only at the early stages and would have to go to consultation afterwards.

A meeting between the two bodies is to take place today (Friday) to consider the issue.

He said off-roaders would strenuously resist the imposition of these orders and had organised letter-writing campaigns to the authorities. "We must match them letter for letter," he said.

Mr Bartholomew added that photographic evidence of all the damage caused to green lanes by vehicles was essential, together with the map reference, date and time seen.

"If the impositions are put in place it will be illegal for motor vehicles and bikes to be used along them and the users can be prosecuted."

He said the group was keeping its eye on the Government's consultation document setting out the proposed Countryside and Rights of Way Act. One section highlighting restricted byways could be favourable to the group.

He added that although many organisations were willing to be linked to the alliance, such as the RSPB, the Ramblers' Association, the Youth Hostel Association, the Yorkshire Dales Society, the Yorkshire Archaeological Group, the national Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement (GLEAM), he was surprised to receive a negative response from the British Horse Society which favoured keeping vehicular access to green lanes.

Individual working groups will now look at the scientific, historic and environmental issues involved, set up a database of damage, liaise with disabled groups and the police and collate up-to-date maps.

Local parish councils have been invited to join the campaign, and of the MPs contacted, Skipton and Ripon MP David Curry and Pendle MP Gordon Prentice had pledged their support.

Speaking on behalf of the Yorkshire Dales Society, Colin Speakman said: "The landscape is living archaeology which is still functioning.

"The map of the Dales is like a manuscript. Roman, monastic and Iron Age tracks and drovers' roads such as the old Craven Way between Kendal and the West Riding, the Buckden to Bainbridge Roman road and Mastiles Lane between Malham and Kilnsey have stood the test of time.

"There has been more damage done to these roads by off-road vehicles in the last 20 years than in the last 2000 years. Many areas have been damaged beyond repair. We must fight a rearguard action and safeguard what is left."