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Cambrian Mountains pilot scheme...

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Skibum346:
Complaint sent.


--- Quote ---Sir,

I find myself writing to you once again regarding the biased, negative reporting of all things 4x4.

The article identified above reports on a recent meeting with a number of stakeholders in the Cambrian Mountains in Wales. Those stakeholder groups were meeting to look at ways in which the use of the Cambrian mountains, and in particular the public rights of way can be utilised for all without impacting on sensitive sites.

A member of the online group www.mud-club.co.uk attended to put the case of the responsible greenlaner. This representative (who I believe you have already heard from) reported to us prior to your article, that the meeting was so-operative and other groups there recognised that they had a distorted image of what greenlaning was.

The article above gets off to an incredibly bad start by inferring in the title that up until now, driving of greenlanes has been illegal. In point of fact, we, as responsible greenlaners, drive routes that are listed as Byways Open to All Traffic, or are listed in the List of Streets. Both of these documents are definitive documents held by relevant councils and maintained by them. Where Temporary Restriction Orders have been applied, we as responsible greenlaners comply with them. The nature of your article avoids this point all together and paints responsible greenlaners as irresponsible law breakers.

Your article also fails to fully explain the possible reasons for an apparent increase in use of byways in particular areas. The NERC act that came into force a little while ago decimated the number of legally available routes. As a result, the population of responsible greenlaners is spread over a much reduced set of routes, leading to a perceived increase locally.

I am once again disgusted that your reporters have chosen to create a report that presents a generally negative picture. However, I am incensed that our efforts to work with other organisations, to build better understanding of responsible greenlaners has been destroyed by lazy, reporting that lies by failing to tell the full story.

Incidentally, if your reports used the term "responsible greenlaners" one fifth as often as I have in this complaint, perhaps the number of complaints you receive would be reduced.

Frank McGoldrick

--- End quote ---

Skibum346:
NArked,

You had any response from the BBC yet..?

Skibum

narked:
Haha, don't be daft mate.

redhand:
I have

Dear Mr XXXXX
,
Thank you for your email. We make it clear in the article that off-roading is not a new pastime, and the CCW and councils are quoted as saying the mountains have been used "for many years." We were careful to speak to the different parties involved, including the West Wales 4x4 Group, who make it clear that the problem is with a rogue element of "cowboy" off-roaders, rather than those who do it legitimately. The police and councils are worried about "illegal"off-roading rather than off-roading per se. Regarding the photographs, we have now been more explicit in labelling  the photo to make it clear that this was damage from 2005 in Glyndwr'sWay. It appeared in the "alt tag" (the alternative text which shows up when the mouse or cursor move over images on the web)but is now given a full caption. The council are quoted as attributing this damage to off-roading rather than to plant. Your point about the NERC Act restricting choice for off-roaders is interesting and one which our Mid Wales reporter would like to pursue.  Many thanks for your interest. Yours sincerely, Ruth Sully Editor News gathering Wales

Skibum346:
Redhand... usual rubbish then... but at least they've taken some steps. And it's interesting the reporter is interested in pursueing the NERC cauising increased use. Wonder who they'll contact when..!

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