CTC’s
‘Save our country Lanes’ project.
Some years ago the CTC ran a project aimed at protecting and
conserving our rural lanes for the benefit of everyone. This project seems to have fizzled out; as
I can’t find any reference to it on the internet. But, if Kent is anything to go by, then never has this issue
been more important.
The CTC once
published a campaign leaflet, on which there was listed eleven issues that we
(cyclists and the general public) should be concerned about, but one they did
not list was to address the deterioration of their general condition through
lack of maintenance. If this problem is
not addressed soon, from a cyclist’s perspective, some lanes may have to be
downgraded to Byway or bridleway status, only suitable for off-road or mountain
bikes. Whilst, they are in the state they are, riding along these lanes the
cyclist needs to maintain the utmost concentration to avoid coming to
grief.
A case in
point:-
Cycling the 27km
from Ashford to Faversham via Westwell, over the Downs via Monkery Lane and a
choice of routes via say: Throwley Forstel, Stalisfield, Belmont House and or,
Whitehill. This is delightful cycling
country with quiet country lanes, set amidst beautiful scenery, but its roads
are often in a poor condition.
For instance, a
few years ago I drew the attention of Kent Highways as to the poor condition of
Westwell Lane’s surface, especially where there is a long steep decent. It has become extremely dangerous. The road surface is bad, but additionally it
has ridges, potholes, and sharply broken road-edges, and a lot of loose debris
causing braking to be ineffective.
The centre of many roads have a band of about a metre, or more, wide,
which is composed of dirt and debris (often with a carpet of grass and weeds
growing on it), leaving very limited space for a cyclist (not quite so serious
for a car as the vehicle would be able span this central reservation), but the
condition is still unacceptable.
If that road
is not bad, crossing the A252 into Monkery Lane, then this road is in an
appalling state. The central debris
band is deep and wide, there are an abundance of potholes and broken edges in
the remaining bits of road surface.
To summarise,
the whole network of rural lanes should be inspected, and cleared of debris,
broken edges repaired, and potholes filled where necessary. If this project is not tackled there is a
danger that we will lose many of this network of country lanes, which are an
important feature of British Life.
This is at a rather long and steep hill, not much space remains for a cyclist.
When you get this sort of scenario and central gravel strip, then it is really nasty.
Ted Prangnell, member of the CTC.
Kennington, Ashford.
1st June 2014.
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