Devon County officers recommend Mutter's Moor and Fire Beacon Hill bridleways remain closed to traffic ... Committee meets 25th February

Last year, concerns were voiced at the application to allow traffic on the bridleway on Mutter's Moor:
Futures Forum: Mutter's Moor 'under threat'... Sidmouth in Bloom meeting: Monday 23rd Sept
Residents resist motobikes on Sidmouth bridleway - News - Sidmouth Herald

This coming Wedsnesday 25th February will see this application - and three others for Fire Beacon Hill - go to committee at Devon County. 
The officers have recommended no change to the status of the bridleways:

Recommendation: It is recommended that no Modification Orders be made in respect of:

(a) Proposal 4: Schedule 14 applications – claimed upgrade of Bridleways 19 & 21, Sidmouth and Bridleways 23 & 24, Otterton on Mutter’s Moor to Byways Open to All Traffic, points P–Q–R–S and T–U shown on drawing number HTM/PROW/13/30;

(b) Proposal 5: Schedule 14 application – claimed upgrade of Bridleway 156, Sidmouth on East Hill to Byway Open to All Traffic, points V–W shown on drawing number HTM/PROW/13/31;

(c) Proposal 15: Schedule 14 application – claimed upgrade of Bridleway 39, Sidmouth & Bridleway 83, Ottery St. Mary across Beacon Hill/Harpford Common to Byways Open to All Traffic, points Q1–R1 shown on drawing number HTM/PROW/13/87; and

(d) Proposal 16: Schedule 14 application – claimed addition of Byway Open to All Traffic, track at Fire Beacon Lane, points S1–T1 shown on drawing number HTM/PROW/13/88

as the evidence is insufficient to record the routes as either Byways Open to All Traffic or as Restricted Byways.

The recommendation is not to make Modification Orders in respect of Proposals 4, 5 and 15 for the upgrade of existing recorded bridleways to Byways Open to All Traffic or in respect of Proposal 16 for adding a Byway Open to All Traffic, as the evidence is considered insufficient to meet the requirements of the legislation. Details concerning the recommendations are discussed in the Appendix to this report.

www.devon.gov.uk/loadtrimdocument?url=&filename=HCW/14/14.CMR&rn=14/WD66&dg=Public

Public Rights of Way (Agenda) - Tue Feb 25 2014

District Councillor Claire Wright will attend the session to speak in support of the officers' recommendations:

Trail bikers proposals for East Hill set for refusal

Friday, 21 February 2014 0 Comments by Claire

A proposal by a trail bikers association to be allowed access to a public right of way across East Hill, is set for refusal, next Tuesday, (25 February).

In the agenda papers for the next public rights of way committee meeting, Devon County Council officers have recommended that “no modification orders” be made with respect to four proposals to upgrade a bridleway for use by “all traffic.”

Proposals five and 15 are within my county council ward.

The proposals include one of the most beautiful spots in East Devon - Fire Beacon Hill, which is partly managed by the RSPB, is a nature reserve and home to all manner of important wildlife, including the Dartford Warbler. It is one of the only places in the UK where it can be spotted.

I will be going along to speak in support of the officers’ recommendations.

The meeting, which starts at 2pm on Tuesday 25 February, will be webcast live here - http://www.devoncc.public-i.tv/core/ 

Here are the agenda papers -http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/councildemocracy/decision_making/cma/cma_document.htm?cmadoc=agenda_prw_20140225.html

http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/trail_bikers_proposal_for_east_hill_set_for_refusal

These areas are very popular places for walkers:
Walking from Ottery St Mary | Over The Hills
Walks To Do - WALKING BRITAIN OR FORBIDDEN BRITAIN?
Fire Beacon | Over The Hills

An interesting history of Mutter's Moor:
www.ramblers.org.uk/~/media/Resources/Volunteer resources/Protecting and expanding where we walk toolkit/09-Footpath Worker 25-4.pdf
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