Broadwindsor lane gets award to curb off-roaders (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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Broadwindsor lane gets award to curb off-roaders
4:45pm Friday 8th February 2013 in Bridport By Anne Bell
Common Water Lane, Broadwindsor
A Broadwindsor lane has suffered in recent years from 4 x 4 drivers leaving the and challenging themselves on the lane's soft verges.
The problem got so bad in Common Water Lane that residents enlisted MP Oliver Letwin's help to solve the problem.
Residents formed the Friends of Common Water Lane and have now embarked on a management plan to protect this ancient trackway from further damage.
They have won a Wessex Watermark Award of £300 to help buy post and rail fencing and brought bring Wessex Water ecologist, Ellen McDouall to the site today.
Common Water Lane is part of the Wessex Ridgeway, one of the best-known ancient trackways in England, probably dating from Neolithic times. Friend Dr Mike Lowing said the pleasure of exploring the Lane and discovering the flora growing in its verges was until recently enjoyed by locals and visitors to the area.
He said it is the spoiling of the lane's verges by 4WD vehicles that prompted residents to take action to prevent the incursions and further damage to the soil and plants.
He said: "Common Water Lane has been part of a community consultation and is listed as a community concern in our parish plan.
"We have taken practical steps to protect the lane's verges and we are beginning to fence them off, with access gates for agricultural vehicles. The council has agreed to dig and maintain the lane's drainage ditches and with every pound that we can raise another foot of fencing can be added. Our Wessex Watermark Award will roll out 90m of fencing and we are delighted with their support."
