Is Open Access in Wales a possibility?

The Welsh Government has opened up a consultation aiming to improve access to the Welsh countryside.

Before you all stagger backwards clutching your hearts, consider that an open consultation such as this suggests an openness on behalf of the Welsh government to new ideas with regard to how better to manage the enormous outdoor resources they can muster. At present, access rights in Wales are the same as those in England – footpaths, bridlepaths and what have you. Bikes (as if you needed reminding) can ride legally on bridlepaths, byways or restricted byways, but not on footpaths.

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This is different to the much more open access available in Scotland, wherein there is no legal distinction between footpaths and bridleways.

If Wales were to adopt a similar system to the one used in Scotland for example, it would potentially signal a sea change in thinking in England too – certainly she’d take note of the different access laws in her two neighbouring countries. It’s possible that this might lead to alterations in how land access is managed in the UK – which is anachronistic and illogical at best.

The consultation on outdoor access in Wales is open to people outside the country too, so if you think wider access would improve things for visiting mountain bikers, drop them a line (before 2nd October):

http://gov.wales/consultations/environmentandcountryside/improving-opportunities-to-access-the-outdoors/

We’ve had a press release from the mysterious MTB Access Group, who are a collection of ‘interested parties’ working on our behalf. Presumably from an abandoned volcano, or something.

But it’s basically a call to arms. It’s worth quoting it in full here:

A Real Opportunity for Increased Access across Wales  

Last week, the Welsh Government published a consultation document (Green Paper) with a view to increasing access for all to the countryside. 

This document has the potential to be very positive for off-road cycling; with one of the items on the agenda being the possibility of Wales adopting a Scottish-style Access Code. 

The current legislative framework predates mountain biking, which is one reason it is so out of kilter with modern needs. Strategically, the arguments within the Green Paper apply with equal force to England, so a successful outcome in Wales will undoubtedly frame the debate for future access increases nationwide.  

The document’s emphasis is on providing “easy and affordable access to quality local green space and outdoor recreation activities close to where people live,” and this will only be achieved with a root and branch reform of the current access settlement. 

But governments only do things if they are seen to be popular, and on previous occasions where this has been debated, there’s been plenty of representation from landowners, walkers, fishermen and horse riders, but little or none from mountain bikers. 

This is our big chance to be heard, but we need to take action and we need to take it fast. 

As the consultation was only launched on Friday, the formal campaigns have had little chance to gain any momentum. But discussions are underway between CTC – the National Cycling Charity, British Cycling and a recently formed consortium of representatives from the mountain bike community, about working together to make the most of this important opportunity.

 More information, including a summary of the consultation document and advice on how to respond, will be available shortly.

British Cycling has just posted on its website that it, along with Welsh Cycling and partners including the National MTB Advocacy Group, will jointly respond to the consultation before the October deadline.

As we mentioned earlier, more details about the consultation, and how to participate, can be found here.

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

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