THE RIDGEWAY NATIONAL TRAIL

PRESS RELEASE

16 May 2006

Major Changes to Vehicle Use on The Ridgeway National Trail

A considerable length of The Ridgeway National Trail previously used by recreational vehicles will be free of such traffic in the future.

Over 22 miles of The Ridgeway through Oxfordshire and West Berkshire have become ‘restricted byways’, a new category of public right of way introduced under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Restricted byways can be used by walkers, cyclists, horseriders and drivers of horse-drawn carriages, but not by recreational vehicles such as motorcycles and 4 by 4s. The Act applies to the whole country and any public right of way that was previously termed a ‘road used as a public path’ is now a restricted byway.

Nearly 18 miles of The Ridgeway west of the River Thames is now a restricted byway from south of the village of Bishopstone (southeast of Swindon) all the way east to above the village of Compton, west of Goring- on-Thames. East of the Thames, over 4½ miles from Britwell Hill near Watlington to the A40 is also now a restricted byway.

“Our National Trails team will be changing the signage on The Ridgeway this summer to make sure everyone is clear about these new sections of restricted byway’, said Margaret Caddick, National Trails Officer. “Information will also be updated to include advice on restricted byways for all users of the Trail, to inform them of where they can legally go and to whom they should report any problems.”

Although it may take some time for everyone to become aware of this change, in time recreational vehicle use of The Ridgeway will become much reduced. They will still be able to use byway sections of the National Trail in Wiltshire and West Berkshire mostly from April to October only, and a very short section in Buckinghamshire, but this constitutes just 17 miles of the 87 miles of The Ridgeway.

ENDS

For further information contact:

· For information about The Ridgeway: Margaret Caddick, National Trails Officer 01865 810248 or margaret.caddick@oxfordshire.gov.uk

· For information about restricted byways in Oxfordshire: Hugh Potter, Senior Field Officer, Oxfordshire County Council 01865 810185 or hugh.potter@oxfordshire.gov.uk

· For information about restricted byways in West Berkshire: Keith Ulyatt, Public Relations Manager, West Berkshire Council 01635 519125

Or visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway