Finally getting muddy! - some 4x4 and nice Ford :)

[PaulS]

Few pics from today - 2 fords and one really muddy track

Both described on Wetroads.co.uk..

West Peckham
TQ653524 (2*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (08/02/2004)

'I found this ford while out testing the Dellow last March and investigating RPPs - won't be allowed soon ! You will find it at 188/ 653 524. The track going to the ford is OK from Forge Farm but is very rutted for a while as it ascends the hill and then flattens out to a deep quagmire after which the track narrows and is very cambered making any further vehicular progress a No No. OK for walkers and mountain bikers. It's pity because the ford is OK.'

'This ford is part way along a public vehicular right of way (Byway Open to All Traffic) with Kent County Council number MR362. Unfortunately the byway is badly overgrown, rutted, waterlogged and blocked by large fallen trees to the west of the ford. I will be contacting KCC's RoW department soon to try and get the obstructions cleared. I couldn't even get along on a mountain bike for most of the route!' Richard Dickenson




Videos (clicky!) - sorry for poor quality!

[PaulS]

Ditton
TQ708579 (3*) Restricted Access
Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (21/03/2003)

'This a delightful ford in Ditton which is a suburb of Maidstone in Kent. It is a bit unusual because it is fairly narrow and forms an S bend and features railings on one side, the water being clear and fast running about 1 foot deep at the time of my visit.'

'The ford is on an unclassified road with council number U1504 - Bradbourne Lane / The Stream. There was a small TRO sign (now removed) placed to stop motorcyclists using the footway instead of the ford. Since Image 1 was taken the ramps in/out have started to break up. At one point there was an 18" step at the eastern ramp and several cars/vans (including an ambulance and a police car) were damaged by grounding out (the depth gauge also reads about 4-6" under). Finally last year a brand new Audi A6 3.0 Tdi dealer demonstrator car driven by a sat nav guided salesmen was drowned as it couldn't get up the ramp. The damage to the interior and engine meant the car was written off so the dealers insurers tried to claim damages from the Highway Authority (Kent CC). The council then put up motor vehicles prohibited signs either side of the ford. I wrote to them pointing out that these were illegal as no legal 'prohibition of driving order' had been made in the courts so they took the signs back down the very next week! The Ford warning signage was updated though and several tonnes of small stone ballast were tipped into the holes by the exit ramps. This is slowly being washed away though. In October this year the Parish Council said they wanted the ford legally closed as too many people were getting stuck . I have expressed my objections to this but have heard no more.' Richard Dickenson












Videos (clicky!):





And best of the best!