A TOUGH stance is needed to safeguard "green lanes" from erosion and disturbance, the national park authority was told this week.

Members voiced opposition on Tuesday to a proposed blanket assumption that motor vehicles had a right to use the unsurfaced fellside tracks known as Unclassified County Roads.

And they called on North Yorkshire County Council to hold off making a decision on the legal status of the routes to see if the suggested approach would help solve the twin problems of erosion and conflict between users.

The county council is proposing to adopt an assumption that vehicular rights exist on the 168km of unclassified roads in the Yorkshire Dales (including 68km in Craven) in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

Over the years the routes have been a source of conflict between users. Insensitive use by four wheel drive vehicles and motorcyclists is believed to have led to damaged surfaces and hostility from other "quiet" users such as walkers, cyclists and horseriders.

In 60 per cent of cases, the use and condition of green lanes are now out of balance, leading to erosion problems.

But the legal status of many of these routes remains confused.

"The current status can only be described as chaos," said Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chairman Robert Heseltine. "Some users are claiming rights but they are not always as quick to accept responsibility for the environmental responsibilities that go with the use of these very sensitive lanes."

Wilf Fenten urged members to oppose the proposal, and suggested a liaison working group should be set up to suggest an alternative way forward.

He added that 23 bodies were being consulted by the county council but they did not include parish councils or the police.

"This is a procedural shortcut which rides roughshod over local people," he said. "What is also worrying is that it encourages more motorised vehicles into the core areas of our parks."

And Ralph Atkinson urged the authority to take a stronger line.

"I believe the county council's highways and transportation sub committee has succumbed to tremendous pressure from four wheel drive bodies. I think we should detail our concerns and take the route of asking for deferral."

John Blackie added: "We need to send a very clear message. If we do not oppose this proposal we are going to have hoards of 4X4s and trial riders spoiling our peace and ruining our countryside."

National park officer George Hallas said in a report to members that the unclassified routes formed a valuable recreational resource and could also be important heritage features.

Authority member John Cumberland added that there should be a distinction between such routes in the national park and other areas of North Yorkshire.

"Green routes in the national park should be preserved for quiet enjoyment in the countryside without motorcycles tearing all over them," he said.

The authority will now ask the county council to hold back making a decision while trials take place to see if solutions to erosion problems and conflict can be found.

"This isn't a highways issue, it is the conservation of the countryside and our very raison d'etre," said Shelagh Marshall.

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