Neil400EXC picked me up on Friday morning and we attended the South Hams Highways and Traffic Orders Committee meeting at Follaton House in Totnes. The first item on the agenda was Whipples lane and the supporters (7 in attendance but only 3 speaking) were given the opportunity to put their case. This left me as an objector and Cllr Mark Lawrence (Ermington District Councillor) who was there to see the wishes of the Parish Council put forward. the lies that issued from the supporters were amazing but as I was addressing the Committee after the objectors it gave me time to add a few bits to my address.
Here are a few of the 'exaggerations'...
"I've seen a horse going up the lane and a motorbike travelling at speed coming down the lane and we've just waited for the accident to happen" Mr Pitts from Hollocombe Farm.
There has never been an accident on the lane!
"There are a group of motorcyclist that go through so regularly early on a Sunday morning you can set your watch by them" "groups of 8-20 motorcyclists rally through the lane" Dr Harker, owner of Whipples.
Sorry, those statements are so far fetched I'm afraid I cannot answer them other than to say they are a fabrication.
"Horses are easily startled and the riders can suffer horrific injuries" Mr Bower (not sure I have the name right), local vet
Totally agree. However I've ridden this lane about a dozen times, I've cycled it 4 times and I've walked it twice. I have only ever met 1 walker. Any horse riders would need to get to the lane via the very small Longbrook road or the very busy Westlake to Fleet road. I reckon they stand far more chance of being startled on the smaller Longbrook road or the busier Westlake road. I met 9 vehicles between Whipples and Westlake when I cycled it!
The supporters said they'd walked Cole lane (already TRO'd)...I pointed out that none of the committee could walk it intheir present attire!
The Committee decided to monitor the lane until July 30th next year (2010) and then make a decision.
So...we've been given a stay of execution. I would suggest that whilst I carry on fighting our corner with all the parties concerned - a lone voice in the wilderness - anyone riding this lane should keep their speed down to below 20mph and ride quietly! I would also suggest you don't ride it on a Sunday as that is the day that seems to upset them most.
I am writing to the people concerned to make sure the lane is properly monitored with either a data logger or manually - that'd should be really boring!
This is an unclassified County road and as such we have every right to use it. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot by riding aggresively.
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I do know where I'm going, but the track it will decide, It's not the destination, It's the glory of the ride!
Well done Andy. As the main objection seems to be "NOISY RIDING" which gives the impression of excessive speed, we should all take notice of this and ride with due consideration for local residents. That said, they say they've had unregistered MX'rs using the lane which, "IF" true, could explain the obvious level of opposition to Bikes generally in the Ermington Parish. It was quite astonishing to hear the "local residents" statements, they were full of the unsubstantiated claims and histrionics, like those used by the Rambliars to get lanes closed or down graded to none vehicular use. Sorry to ramble on, maybe a good topic for discussion on Thursday?
Don't worry Neil, we don't think you're a rambliar. Yes, it's on the agenda for Thursday along with very little else, ' cos only one member has put forward something for the agenda.
. Yes, it's on the agenda for Thursday along with very little else, ' cos only one member has put forward something for the agenda.