10th November 2008 - Surrey Highways closes BOATS

Surrey Highways has now closed certain BOATS.

Abinger Byway 137 - the Drove Road between White Downs and Blind Oak Gate has had an emergency closure placed on it which removed the rights of motor vehicles and carriages to use the route. This was due to the damage that was being caused to the surface. The route remains open to motor bikes, horses, cyclises and pedestrians. This will roll into a 6 month closure to vehicles, during which time Surrey Highways will seek a possible solution.

Abinger Byway 5 - Sheepwalk Lane is also covered by the above partial closure.

Shere Byway 515 - Beggars Lane. From Blind Oak Gate (where the Byway turns sharp south) to the Nursery at Gomshall the length o the Byway has been closed to ALL users. This is for safety reasons and will also be for 6 months. This may or may not need to be extended.

The North Downs way remains open to walkers.

30th October 2008 - County Council carries out assessment on BOATS

Surrey County Council has carried out a review of BOATS, as part of its review of countryside access including its policies on Traffic Regulation Orders. A report entitled "Countryside Access - The Role of the County Council" was put before the Environment and Economy Select Committee on the 30th October 2008. The role of the County Council will be put on the agenda of the County Council Executive in January 2009. At that meeting, there should be made available a document containing the assessment of the condition of each BOAT.

13^th December 2007 – Threat to Leith Hill from off-road drivers

The Surrey Advertiser reported today that countryside rangers on Leith Hill had been forced to install wooden posts, to stop the continuing damage to Mole Valley’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

4 by 4 drivers are deliberately driving off the tracks into the historic woods, in order to get a "thrill" from the rough terrain.

Signs warning motorists to keep to the tracks are being damaged, and posts installed are being taken out. The tracks are so churned up that deep mud wallows are being created.

Paul Redsell, area head warden for the National Trust that users of the website YouTube had posted revealed videos of their illegal activities in the woods. He also said that if the damage to the environment continued, he would have to apply for a traffic order banning cars from the area.

On the 19th September 2007, a meeting of the Leith Hill Access Forum took place to discuss the problem of BOATS. The meeting was attended by various stakeholders including the National  Trust and the Wotton Estate.

A number of issues were discussed, including the increasing pressure on Leith Hill from visitors, including cyclists, walkers and four wheel drivers. Some 616,000 visit Leith Hill every year.

A representative from the National Trust described the damage done to Leith Hill by four wheel drivers, and how attempts to stop them from driving off the track (including the placing of stumps) had not succeeded. 

Surrey County Council said that it would be very difficult indeed to change the designation of any BOATS or issue road traffic regulations orders. A speaker from the Hurtwood Trust described how the Trust had engaged with cyclists to minimise the damage to the wood, and how this had proved relatively successful.

The Forum will reconvene in December 2007, and at that stage talk about the problem of mountain bikers. A working group was established to discuss ongoing problems.