PROTECTING COUNTRY LANES

Early day motion 431, tabled 20 December 2004 by Harry Barnes (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House is deeply concerned that a concerted campaign by vested interests is in operation to destroy the status of country lanes which are currently restricted in their use to categories such as walkers, horse riders and local farmers to open them for use by crowds of motor cyclists, car drivers and other disruptive powered vehicles; notes that 111 applications have been submitted in Derbyshire for such anti-social purposes between 16th October 2003 and 24th November 2004, including 20 applications in the constituency of North East Derbyshire, of which 10 are in the parish of Ashover alone; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to put forward measures to block such applications pending the consideration of legislation clarifying the status of designated country lanes.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 4, Conservative 3.