URGENT - Action required nowLincolnshire County Council
Proposed prohibition of driving order, Viking Way/The Drift, Denton to SkillingtonLincs CC have recently advertised their intention to impose a permanent seasonal TRO (Oct 1st to March 31st) on a very popular and important UCR known as The Drift which forms part of Viking Way long distance route. This order would exclude ALL MOTOR VEHICLES (inc m/cycles)
Anyone who knows this route will be aware of the very serious problems that have existed here for some time. This includes high levels of illegal riding/driving and serious surface damage caused by irresponsible use.
While the idea of a seasonal restriction itself is actually quite reasonable given the history of this route the details are cause for some concern. I believe that the TRF should object to the inclusion of motor cycles in this order.
Experience in other counties where seasonal TROs are used extensively with considerable success would also suggest that th eclosure period proposed could be better. Closing the lane during October is probably not necessary but the real problem is opening it on the 1st of April.
Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire have been using this type of traffic management approach for over a decade. Over the years have had to repeatedly extend their closures into May to avoid surface damage during wet spring weather.
Lifting a seasonal TRO too early in the year is a big mistake and can undermine all of the benefits of this kind of order. This in tern discredits the approach and leads to renewed calls for a year round closure. In my view a restriction between November 1st and April 30th would make a lot more sense.
Further info is detailed below but please note the closing date for objections is
20th September!Viking Way Seasonal TRO
Lincolnshire
Deadline for objections: 20th September 2011
Contact:
Objections to,
Mark Heaton, Area Highways Manger-Grantham
Highways West
County Offices, Annex C
Eastgate
Sleaford
Lincolnshire
NG34 7EB
Tel: 01522 782070
Email:
Dev_HT_SK_and_S@lincolnshire.gov.uk