Voluntary Restraint – Copehill Down (Salisbury Plain).
The byways within the Shrewton/Tilshead/Chitterne (Copehill down village FIBUA) triangle are now subject to voluntary restraint in order to prevent further deterioration while the ground is waterlogged. These byways were previously subject to a temporary traffic regulation order (TRO) last winter that made use by vehicles with three or more wheels a criminal offence.
Using these byways with a motor vehicle remains lawful but any surface damage caused could lead to a charge of criminal damage and/or permanent closure. The area will be monitored (particularly over the Christmas period when use by vehicle groups is very popular) in order to gauge both the effectiveness of VR and the types of vehicle users who choose to ignore it. Although solo motorcycles have once again excluded from this winter byway management we strongly discourage their use in order that the ground be allowed to ‘rest and recover’.
If you must cross Copehill Down during this period of VR we recommend using the all-weather tracks (AWT) instead. AWT are ‘made-up’ military roads that the public may use during periods of range inactivity providing it is done in accordance with any signs, flags and the respective range bylaws. Range bylaws can be found on the many white, rectangular signs that dot the periphery of the training area).
Byways subject to VR are marked in blue on the attached map.
All-weather tracks are marked in green on the attached map.
Example photos of range signs, red warning flags and range bylaws are also attached. VR signs are due to be erected this Saturday 19th December.
Please call Plainwatch on 01980 674700 to report illegal activity or check the legality and safety of public access to any given right of way or AWT within the training area.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
Lanes were VRO applies:
Permissive all-weather tracks (subject to signs, flags and range bylaws).
17th Dec 2015 8:44 am
DrRobH
Member Since: 10 Oct 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 927
All VRO signs are now confirmed in place, with additional signage from Tread Lightly.
all of the soft Plain byways are presently in a terrible state and restraint is requested on all routes. We run a very real risk of permanent closure of some of these routes so please spread the word.
24th Dec 2015 4:08 pm
EMcC
Member Since: 10 Jul 2015
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 536
The troops need to be told to tread lightly too.
They don't go through the vedettes any more now that they are not manned, they drive around them taking fence posts and wire with them.
Ditches seem to be challenges to the tracked vehicles too, causing flooding in areas that are normally drained away.
Any damage done by our tiny toys are minimal compared to the big boys toys.
Rest assured, they are subject to discipline if they're caught.
25th Dec 2015 4:48 pm
EMcC
Member Since: 10 Jul 2015
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 536
There's nobody out there to catch them now.
No mobile Range Wardens when firing, no Land Wardens when not firing and only one Range Marshal per section over the whole of SPTA.
When damage is found they cannot contribute it to any particular unit as they are all long gone.
25th Dec 2015 5:09 pm
AAA.Happy.Disco1.Fan
Member Since: 04 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 2895
EMcC wrote:
They don't go through the vedettes any more now that they are not manned ...
... for this addition to my already enviably wide and eclectic vocabulary.....
AAA
25th Dec 2015 8:35 pm
Niel
Member Since: 15 Jul 2015
Location: Southampton, 'Ampshir'
Posts: 169
EMcC wrote:
There's nobody out there to catch them now.
No mobile Range Wardens when firing, no Land Wardens when not firing and only one Range Marshal per section over the whole of SPTA.
When damage is found they cannot contribute it to any particular unit as they are all long gone.
Which is why civilian 4x4 drivers are blamed when ever possible, especially by the tramplers.
30th Dec 2015 11:05 pm
EMcC
Member Since: 10 Jul 2015
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 536
As regards civilian 4 x 4 s being blamed for damage, I can see why.
As soon as the civilian 4 x 4s see a great big swathe of mud caused by the tracked vehicles or other military vehicles, they drive straight for it and plough through, sometimes needing recovery by one of the other civilian 4x 4s.
I just do not understand them.
They are all kitted up, some more so than the military equivalent vehicle, and just plough around in convoy aiming for the biggest ditches, puddles or 'tank scrapes' at a steady 15 - 20 mph and get dirty as h+++ and use their lowest gear so don't do much to the mpg.
It seems a strange hobby to me, if they wanted the military feel of things why didn't they join the Army.
30th Dec 2015 11:18 pm
therso
Member Since: 01 Dec 2010
Location: Here!
Posts: 368
For those of you who have had the pleasure of digging a slit trench on SPTA you will know that the only damage done is to your will to live.
The solution, if perpetrators cannot be found or identified, is for General F**kdust to get off his backside and order every unit to get themselves on the Plain and sort it out!
In '87, I think it was, when the whole of BAOR were invited to join the GOC on Soltau/Luneberg Training Area to clear the whole area up. Great fun was had by all.
As for civvies............................well.........
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