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Thanks Geoff,
In my capacity of voluntary Roadside Nature Reserves Co-ordinator for LWT I have had responsibility for managing restoration and maintenance of The Drift SSSI since 2008. This has been funded by LCC Highways and overseen by Natural England. By 2011, thanks to dry weather and temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO), we had got it in good condition. Since then we have had almost unrelenting wet weather throughout 2012 and another very wet winter this time. This wet, combined with the activities of a lawless element among the off-roading enthusiasts, has taken us back to square one in terms of damage.
Positive steps taken so far have included letters to the local MP, the Chief Constable and the Inspector of Constabulary, which resulted in a much improved police input, and an on-line public petition which produced over 1500 signatures. Also, fencing of all the gaps along the field boundaries by NE has blocked those points of access. We now have a permanent TRO and it depends on effective policing, especially at week-ends, and adequate physical barriers at the road access points.
I was there yesterday, with Richard O'Connor, who carries out the botanical surveys, to assess the present state of The Drift in preparation for a meeting next Monday between NE, LCC Highways, LWT and Police (if they come). Regrettably, the officer who had responsibility for the site, who was very conscientious, has been moved to other duties.
We are asking members of the public to report to the police any instances of use by motorised vehicles they witness, with details of vehicles involved and photographs if they can be taken without jeopardy to personal safety. If you can help in that respect, please do.
The law relating to highways is so archaic that access has to be retained for horse-drawn vehicles as well as horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians, which makes it very difficult to keep out trail bikers who flout the law.
I note your comment about disturbance but it is almost all confined to week-ends. During the week the site is very quiet. There are still 230 plant species recently recorded, including several of conservation importance.
If you are interested, I can let you know what measures are proposed at our meeting next week to make the site more secure against further damage. The ongoing restoration work is already in hand but we need the closure to be effective first.
John
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