The Walna Scar Road – To Drive or Not to Drive

Recently, on my return from a hike in the Coniston Fells, I chanced upon an ITV News reporter and cameraman filming at the bottom of the Walna Scar Road. At first glance, Walna Scar doesn’t seem like the most newsworthy or even the most interesting place to film, although it transpired that the reason for his presence was the fact that the road had been closed to motorized traffic earlier that morning.

I was under the impression that this path was only open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, but this, until this morning, was not the case. In fact, there have been several court disputes to determine the status of Walna Scar and similar actions are underway over Garburn Pass in the east of the lakes.

At first glance, you may wonder who would want to drive over tracks like these, as doing so would damage the average car with no guarantee of getting to the other side. However, it seems that the companies that offer off-road driving experiences are the main opponents of the traffic-free state and I can see their side of the argument: they need a place to be able to offer their services just like those that offer off-road motorcycles and quads. excursions.

This brings us to a debate similar to the 10 knot speed limit imposed on Windermere in 2005, which effectively banished motor boats and water skiers from the lake. They weren’t prohibited as such, but 10 knots (less than 12 mph) is insufficient speed for water skiing or motor boating fun, so they went elsewhere. The ban was unpopular with water sports enthusiasts, but at the end of the day some of their activities were a danger to other lake users.

My personal opinion in favor of the ban is based on the fact that by walking or cycling on this trail I am not endangering other users, causing distress to livestock or wildlife, or inflicting an undue amount of damage to the track itself. As soon as one drives a motor vehicle here, although this would not be the case. Apart from the physical danger to others, there is the element of noise to consider. Our major roads and cities are plagued with traffic noise and pollution and we come to places like the Lakeland Fells to escape things like the roar of engines.

I don’t claim to have an answer that will keep everyone happy here, which is why the case is in court, but the Forestry Commission operates a good system on their logging roads. The routes are closed to private motorized traffic but are open for use by pedestrians, cyclists and, as far as I know, equestrians, but the roads are used by the Forestry Commission’s own logging vehicles to access timber and must be turned over to them by other users. pass if found. In the case of Walna Scar and other disputed routes, I would suggest a similar arrangement whereby farmers and emergency services are allowed to use the road, plus quarry vehicles in the case of Walna Scar, but with the routes closed to private motorized traffic.

I may not agree with the power users here, but at least I’ve outlined your point of view. For the legal arguments that I won’t attempt to explain, I have placed a link at the bottom of this article to GLEAM, which is a lobby group that campaigns through the legal system to keep motor vehicles off our green lanes and detours to preserve them as a safe place for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.