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news
New Forest rider and pony (CC licensed by iNew Forest:Flickr)Threat to axe New Forest’s off-road cycle network as court criticises “out of control” cyclists
More than 100 miles of off-road cycle routes in the New Forest could be axed unless Forestry England acts upon a court’s warning to “toughen up” on what it claims are “out of control” cyclists in the national park.
Forestry England, which manages the New Forest, had been seeking a three-year extension of access to the network of waymarked tracks – including bridleways, gravel tracks and fire roads – from 2021-23, reports the Advertiser & Times.
However, the Verderers Court – a body dating back to the 13th century which carries out similar functions to a magistrates’ court in relation to certain matters related to the New Forest – has only provided a 12-month extension.
The court has told Forestry England that no further extensions will be granted unless it takes steps to stop riders from deviating from the marked paths – with one verderer recently fulminating against “gangs of hardcore bikers determined to ride where they please.”
Forestry England deputy surveyor Bruce Rothnie outlined to a meeting of the Verderers Court last month steps it planned to take to ensure cyclists keep to permitted routes, in response to claims that those who did not were disturbing wildlife and causing environmental damage.
Measures proposed include using its website and social media channels, as well as those of the New Forest National Park Authority, to highlight the need to cycle responsibly, and getting rangers, both on foot and bicycles, to speak to cyclists to make them aware of the issues.
It said it would seek to establish cyclists’ understanding of where they are allowed to ride through getting some riders to fill in questionnaires, as well as engaging with local bike hire shops and cycling organisations.
Mapping will be updated, and there are also plans to improve signage for cyclists in the area.
Those measures do not go far enough for the Verderers Court, which in granting the one-year extension to access warned Forestry England that it needed to “toughen up” the proposals for any future extension to be granted.
The Verderers Court consists of 10 members, five of whom are elected by the 700 or so New Forest commoners – those who occupy land or property that has rights over the Forest.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Forestry Commission, the National Park Authority, and Natural England appoint one member each, while the chair of the court, who carries the title Official Verderer, is appointed by the Queen.
Anthony Pasmore, elected a verderer in 1973 and a commoner for more than 60 years, wrote in a column in the Advertiser & Post earlier this month: “We are not dealing with family parties or small urban children, innocently straying off the permitted routes through a lack of understanding, but with gangs of hardcore bikers determined to ride where they please, disturbing the peace and cutting up the Forest.”
The New Forest’s popularity for recreation and leisure, plus its status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the common pasturing rights enjoyed by commoners frequently cause tensions, also due to the often conflicting priorities of the various bodies involved.
Cycling is a regular issue of contention, with sportives targeted in the past by saboteurs spreading tacks or removing or changing the direction of signs, and the charity Cycling UK has described local opposition to cycling as “entirely irrational.”
> New Forest defends its record on cycling following unflattering comparison to other national parks
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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52 comments
Surely it is a legal right to ride on bridleways. Can they overrule that?
By what twisted logic do they work out that banning something that's currently allowed will stop something that's already not allowed?
Because the logic of the Verderers is currently at the pre-enlightenment levels of "duck / floating / wood / witch"...?
Apparently there is a consultation open for feedback on what payment scheme the commoners will get:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-forest-consultation-novem...
You can complete if you 'have an interest in the ownership or management of the New Forest'
Anyone know which option gets them the least public money so I can support it?
"The direction we were moving in was clear now; without wanting it, without even knowing it, we were becoming a gang."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7JYBjWtq-c
It's irresponsible to use the word "gangs", with its connotations of drug-dealing and violence, when talking about two or more people riding mountain bikes.
Maybe we should start referring to the verderers as a gang?
Verderers are still in the 13th century! Anyway having explored the area plenty they need to ban the weather, it's doing more damage than anything
We're gonna build a wall and they're gonna pay for it.
It will just lead to compulsory mask wearing for hardcore riders.
Username checks out
I shouted and shouted and now I've got pony throat; I'm a little hoarse.
I live fairly local to the Forest and try and avoid it if at all possible. The local NIMBYS are some of the worst I've come across and are very vocal at making sure you're not welcome. It's a shame as the forest has some fantastic riding both on and off road. It's just a very volcal minority supported by the Verderers who just don't like people using 'their' forest.
Unless they're in cars from Surrey - they're pretty quiet about that.
Makes the Forest of Dean seem friendly!
Because it is, of course.
England needs a 'Right to Roam'. Everytime I see something that comes from a 13th Century feudal past I think it all needs to be washed away.
https://en.wikiredia.com/wiki/Right_to_roam
Plenty of moaning before the Land Reform Act of 2003 was brought in to law in Scotland. There are no serious voices now that don't see it as huge success.
The problem here is that if (as they claim) this is not family groups etc. innocently straying from the paths, but "hardcode bikers determined to ride where they please", which group do they think will continue riding in the forest if the paths are taken away?
Absolutely right, cyclists should ride, and behave responsibly, but if there are wrongdoers, they should be dealt with as such, rather than immediately going for the nuclear option of removing the paths altogether. If anything that will only make it worse.
Exactly. Anyone who is knowingly riding where they're not allowed to will continue to do that. It seems likely that some of the peole who were sticking to the marked routes will either continue to ride those routes or will just ride where ever they feel like since.
Are there any plans to restrict motorised traffic in the New Forest in order to reduce the number of dead and injured animals? Last time I looked it was over 150 a year.
That's what you would think looking at social media.. the facts tell a different story, 58 in 2019. 3 times as many animals released on the forest since 1990 and almost a 3rd of the deaths. Now if they didn't get paid for each animal they released...
https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/app/uploads/2018/07/Animal-accidents-ana...
Four ponies killed by a Land Rover in a single incident on 1st January this year.
Tragic yes but far from the norm, stats from that link I posted
1990 5700 animals depastured, 143 killed
2019 15303 animals depastured, 58 Killed
It's not the "increasing numbers" and "carnage" that social media and the press would have you believe but that doesn't make such a good story
Percentage wise just the ponies
2.49% killed in 1990 0.6% in 2019
What is "depastured"?
Horse meat ?
Well, I had to look it up myself; that's three seconds I'll never get back.
archaic : to denude of pasture by too constant grazing
Presumably, if that doesn't stop anytime soon, they'll be taking the roads away from drivers?
No? Thought not. Twats.
Whats the logic for animal owners being paid to allow their animals to free roam over the common land?
Is their a belief that some level of animal presence is required to maintain the firest in its current state?
A certain level of animal grazing keeps the landscape a certain way, yes. IIRC they managed to wangle a fixed sum of money, shared per head of pony or donkey, possibly even pigs too. Might have been Europe money.
There are now loads of donkeys - cute if your a tourist, but neither use nor ornament otherwise. They make great traffic calmers in the day time. Maybe you have to be in it to understand it, but I never can get beyond "because we always have" as a rationale for commoning.
Is it the case that the New Forest commoners aren't that common?
In their 2011 census document asking about the serious problems they face cycling is not mentioned at all. The verbatim comments are also reproduced and again cycling is not mentioned.
For anyone wanting background reading about the Verderers here we go:
https://www.verderers.org.uk/verderers-court/
Or just look at the photo of the members of the Verderers Court.
Thanks for the link - on a quick read, it seems to be the Vereders are a consultee of the Forestry Commission re cycle trails "in the open forest" (does that mean outside the actual wooded areas?)
I think it's all eyes on the Forestry Commission.
I'd be up for some road group rides at weekends XR style: if we've been told no off-road, on road it will have to be.
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