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Long-time no see (my first posting for many, many years), (I haven't been on the MTB for a few either - but putting the life back-together and planning to soon, another thread but I "need" a new bike - Whyte S150 maybe?) 🙂
What's brought me back is not good news though.. I was helping out at a running event at the weekend, part of the course used the above mentioned Byway (officially called BA21/6 Stony Lane - a BOAT - Byway Open to all Traffic - ie open to all including 4x4s and motor (trail) bikes..)
Those who know it will know it was a fantastic descent - steep rocky, stepped, including an alternative line at one point.. We (the old Bath MTB Wednesday Night lot) called it "Shanks" after the Mr Jon who once crashed badly on it.
I was incredibly disappointed to discover that it's been "improved" ie completely trashed.. As happened at Pipehouse (another once fantastic descent on the other side of Bath) it's been completely filled in using a mixture of quarry stone and it looks like recycled waste. The once legendary gully is gone, a large 'wall' of larger stones has been used to fill it in. The whole lot has been topped off with the usual compacted 'Type 1' (ie roadstone down to fines).
It's now basically a very steep gravel track. I almost shed a tear!
I wrote to the local Council (Bath and North East Somerset) yesterday and got this reply:
Although Stony Lane was well used by trailriders, the damage to the surface was mostly caused by water erosion. I appreciate that the route would have provided a welcome challenge for mountain bikers but unfortunately it was so out of repair that it had become impassable for many users, especially horseriders. The majority of complaints came from horseriders but we also received representations from St Catherine Parish Meeting, one of the ward councillors and a small number of local residents. A number of stakeholders wanted a TRO to be made to prohibit motorised vehicular use but we did not feel this was appropriate given that in our view the damage was caused by water erosion, rather than vehicles.
The works were carried out as part of the 2016/17 PROW Capital Improvement Programme; the JLAF were notified of the works along with all the other schemes within that year’s capital programme but we don’t consult with them on the programme as such. The total cost of the works was £14,450; this included the installation of a drainage system in addition to the actual surfacing works to rebuild the surface of the BOAT.
So, not a lot we can do about it now but I guess another lesson - The JLAF is the Joint Local Access Forum - I've been to one before (along with Mr Agreeable) and undoubtedly we need to make sure we (mountain bikers) have a voice on them, if only to ensure they are aware of how much we value trails like this one. We might not have been able to save it, I suspect the horse riders and Parish Council would still have got their way, but maybe we could have got it 'improved' in sections, using a different approach (as I know they've done in other areas)..?
been that way for a few years now Andy, you're right, you need to get on your MTB more!
but yep, it's a loss
This rings a bell but I can't work out where it is... is it the one on the top of Hollies Lane? No way that should even really be a By-Way if it is that one and even more bizarre if that one was made in to a (crazy) steep gravel track that will wash away by mid winter.
Oh and yes, MTB more 😀
Is that the descent that comes down to a farmer's barn at the end (off of Lansdown)?