In response to the letter by Martin Sullivan (23 September), I was glad to hear from someone who drives on the unclassified county road system, colloquially known as green lanes.
I would be happy to discuss the use of Broomhill Lane and Back Lane with anyone – except the vehicles that drive at speed past my house, do not stop and when they do are extremely rude.
However, I don’t agree that this is a new issue: I was contacted by the son of the previous owner of my house who said it had been a problem for more than 40 years.
It is also clear that the Green Lane Association’s Code of Conduct is not adhered to for this path; for example, members should:
• Avoid damage to trees, hedgerows and boundaries. Some roads carry vehicular rights but are physically too narrow for 4x4s.
• Travel at a quiet and unobtrusive pace and as slowly as practicable; we recommend a maximum of 12 mph when in a 4x4 and on an Unsurfaced Right of Way.
I do find it impolite to be blamed for “overgrown fences” when it is clearly (as evidenced in the photographs in a previous news story) the vehicles that are running over the line of the fence and causing damage to the posts along the path. This section of track is not overgrown at fence level.
The other side of this particular track runs along the lower edge of the school playing field which belongs to a local farmer.
Even if this was cut back (and I am glad that this historic pathway isn’t cut back hard because it would further damage the habitat) it would still not provide enough space for the sort of vehicles that are using it.
Rather than attempting to blame others it would be more useful for anyone engaged in driving these paths to come to a meeting, put their point of view in person and maybe even accept that the green lane vehicles are causing damage to property and the track.
Helen Lindsay, Broomhill, Reepham