Lobbying for New Trails - Any Tips?

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Lobbying for New Trails - Any Tips?

11 posts & 7 voices | Started 7 months ago by DJ | Latest reply from DJ

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DJ - Member

Hi Everyone,

I just wondered if anyone had any experience of lobbying for new trails to be created?

A couple mates and I were discussing the possibility of having a trail (like they have done at Ashton Court, Haldon Forest etc) in the Blackdown Hills, Somerset. The Blackdowns are notoriously boggy and don’t drain well but we all feel the potential for riding is there due to the gradient, landscape and woods etc.

Somerset doesn’t currently have a proper trail centre so it would be brilliant if something could be created. Most people in the area tend to ride the Quantocks which are outstanding but it would be great to have an alternative official ‘all weather’ trail. It could also be incorporated into the 1 South West Adventure project.

I sent off an e-mail yesterday to Somerset County Council, Devon County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, South Somerset Council, The Forestry Commission, 1 South West and Architrail suggesting such a centre, asking them to do a feasibility study but I don’t think this will get me very far. A polite thanks but no thanks I suspect.

Anyone got experience of this type of thing and could offer some help/advice?

Cheers

Posted 7 months ago #
Mr Agreeable - Member

You've got a couple of options - somehow attract the funding for a project, or do it yourself.

Building weatherproof trails isn't cheap. The cost is generally around £20 a metre, less is a false economy. To secure any serious external funding, you'll need some sort of angle. "Please build a trail for me and my mates" won't cut it - you need to think in terms of the benefits it will bring to an area.

I think the first construction phase of the 1SW project is now almost over and the funding has been allocated, although I'm sure they'll be happy to help in whatever way they can.

The 1SW trails were funded following a feasibility study that highlighted the tourism benefits mountain biking brings - the number of extra visitors, the average spend of each one, etc. Alternatively you could pitch this project as a local sports facility, health benefits, giving the kids something to do, etc. Or, if there are problems with unmanaged mountain biking, portray it as a solution to this - reducing environmental damage, user conflict, etc.

There are tonnes of grants out there and they are all aimed at different types of initiative and have many, many strings attached. There are too many to go into here but I think BTCV publish an annual list of all the available ones aimed at conservation projects, many of which are applicable to trail building.

If, having considered all this, you'd rather not go down the grants route, the other option is to do it yourself (i.e. set up a volunteer group). There are plenty of people round the UK who've taken this route, self included, and it can be a great way of getting a trail built that meets riders' expectations without having to source funding that runs into thousands of pounds.

The main caution is that if you're building somewhere which doesn't have ideal terrain, you might be best off bringing in the professionals in the first place, rather than going through the time and effort of building a trail only to have it turn to slush over the first winter.

If you do decide to try the DIY route, check out http://www.imba.com and http://www.imba.org.uk/Trailbuilding/Trailbuilding_FAQs.html for some starter advice.

My email's in my profile if you want to ask any tediously specific questions.

Posted 7 months ago #
Hareydan - Member

Out of interest, how does an area such as Haldon woods get developed? Was there an existing outdoorsy type thing that was expanded to include mtb trails and the other stuff that's there, or was it an entirely new project? I think it's FC land, were they the instigators or did someone have to go to them with the proposal?

Posted 7 months ago #
Mugboo - Member

No idea about the area you are taking about but every project has a driving force behind it, ie, you. Just be prepared for a very long, tough slog even if they say yes.

But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good luck

Posted 7 months ago #
DJ - Member

Thanks for the advice Mr A and Mugboo. I think the area would really benefit from something like this as it would be different to the other riding in the vacinity. The more I think about it, the more feasible it sounds but as you say, it will be a long hard slog.

Do people know the area? What are your thoughts?!

Posted 7 months ago #
Mr Agreeable - Member

how does an area such as Haldon woods get developed?

I think it was already informally used (mainly for DH/North Shore), the FC encouraged the builders to get involved with something official, and it grew from there. This is based on a vague recollection of conversation with a few of the Haldon Freeride guys at an IMBA conference a few years back - I'm not sure whether the same volunteers are actively involved any more.

Posted 7 months ago #
Cheeky Monkey - Member

What Mr A says gives a pretty good view on it. Personally, I would have asked on here first before the blanket email to all

If you have a specific area in mind for the trail then I would try and identify the land manager / owner (they maybe the same but sometimes organisations are contracted to manage sites, like FC, on behlf of other owners). If you can get the land manager on side that's a big, big part of the process.

For instance, where the FC beat forester responsible for a particular area hasn't been on board all our efforts came to nothing.

If you can't get the manager on side then you'll have to convince people they either answer to or that can persuade them. This is more challenging but still possible.

Be prepared for a long slog, be prepared to compromise, don't get all uppity and carried away about it, stay cool, find the buttons you need to hit for the other people (land manager, owner, "stakeholders" etc) and try to meet them.

Good luck

Posted 7 months ago #
Mr Agreeable - Member

Don't know the area very well, but is this in your neck of the woods?

http://www.nerochescheme.org/herepath.php

Posted 7 months ago #
timc - Member

haldon woods is the worst place ive been biking in britain... rubbish

so it could do with some new trails, not sure that will help though

Posted 7 months ago #
torsoinalake - Member

Don't know the area very well, but is this in your neck of the woods?

http://www.nerochescheme.org/herepath.php

Yes. It is absolutely hanging when wet, and churned to bits by horses. The waymarked trail is deadly dull too.

DJ - do you know the guy that does the trails at Orchard Portman? He may have some contacts already. I think he posts on Pinkbike: http://tinyurl.com/5s4qnwy

(BTW I'm not local to the area, but have ridden there a few times)

Posted 7 months ago #
DJ - Member

MR A. Spot on. The area I highlighted is the eastern end which includes Staple Hill and Neroche. The herepath there is not challenging or fulfilling enough for mountain bikes, alright for a jaunt around but nothing exciting. I suggested that new trails could be linked to the herepath around that area.

It's fairly flat along the top but there is plenty of gradient down the sides to make trails challenging/interesting. At present, as torsoinalake says, it is a mudfest and doesn't drain well, and the horse churn it up but I think there is real potential in there.

Torsoinalake - the Orchard Portman guy replied to a previous thread of mine. That's not a bad shout. I'll try and contact him. Thanks.

By the way, heard from Somerset County Council and whilst they are keen to be involved in such a project they do not wish to initiate it due to costs and budget cuts etc. They were very supportive though as the guy who replied used to be in charge of the Quantocks AONB.

Posted 7 months ago #

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