Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2007 | Page 63

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING life spring and summer months. John would like to see a By-ways are often ancient radical shake up of current and historic tracks designed ‘unproductive’ footpaths, for use by walkers and consolidating them to become horse and carts and as such sensible and convenient routes cannot withstand the abuse acceptable to landowners of motorised vehicles. The and users alike. The process Council have indicated that if has started, but it isn’t going future and continued disregard to happen overnight. A lot of of these paths continues thought and hard work has the ban may well spread. already gone into planning There are many questions to routes, however there is still be answered: Will landowners a great deal to do, signeage be compensated? What about to prepare and a lot of security? Will sensitive areas understanding. Level-headed and wildlife be protected? negotiation is going to be And who will be responsible required by all parties. John for maintenance or if someone feels that a good joined up were to fall over a log? network of public access These are obstacles that John routes is a fundamental is anticipating, he doesn’t yet foundation to a sustainable have answers for all of them tourist industry on our Island. and is positive, in his forward thinking, that there is a solution. Cllr. John Hobart can He recognises the need for be contacted at john. consultation and is proactive [email protected]. in his vision of ‘car free enjoyment of the Isle of Wight’. Everybody needs to work together move this 22/5/06 2:23 pm Page 1 ADBW_27 toM help Legge 136x97 important issue forward. For a more personal approach to insurance, pensions & Investments the idea that there should be access to the entire coast of the United Kingdom in the form, possibly, of a 10 metre corridor. They have also put forward three other options which involve use of the highways Act, the CROW Act and Permissive Agreements. This has already started in some West Country counties, Wales, and is in existence around most of Scotland. If this were to happen on the island, there could be linking paths to roadways and parking areas, so that people could join the coastal route in different locations. The route would take in the beach, cliff tops and, where necessary, move inland to negotiate creeks or avoid disturbance to special features and habitats. New ‘open areas’ would be created and sympathetically landscaped to encourage people to visit and picnic. But where people have access, this is sometimes abused. The IW Council have just closed the Tennyson Trail to 4x4 users, because of continued damage, allowing only limited access to successful applicants in the Island Life - www.isleofwight.net To find out more call Matt Legge on 522290 Visit NFU Mutual Office, Gunville Road, Carisbrooke PO30 5FP NFU Mutual is The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Ltd (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. It’s an NFU Mutual understanding 63