Strata Florida & The Gap Rd Camping Weekend

[alex]

Great vids Ste, dribbling now with excitement.

See what you mean about the bomb hole, gonna be a great one.

[Drift]

Anyone breaks anything going that direction they will need a Chinook to get out.

[Drift]

[Trugga]

For those that do not know, I thought it advisable to to post the following as you may be breaking the law if you choose to drive the Gap Road.

Prior to 2006, the Gap Road was designated as a RUPP (Road Used as as a Public Path) and as such your were legally able to drive a motorised vehicle along such a route. During 2006, a new Act was passed by Government, known as the NERC (Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006) which re-classified all RUPP's as RB's (Restricted Byways)

Effectively, this means that the Gap Road cannot be legally driven in a motorised vehicle.

That said, a number of you will know that prior ro 2006 the Gap Road was subject to a bi-yearly TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) which only allowed it to be used by motorised vehicles for a few weeks of the year. It is interesting to note that once the NERC Act came into effect, the TRO signs (indicating the open dates) went missing... they were replaced with new ones.

Here is then, a little confusion - the Gap Road was changed from a RUPP to a RB and vehicles were banned, yet new signs were erected giving the dates that vehicles could drive it.

Earlier in the year, I wrote to the Breacon Beacons County Council asking for the "open" dates:

Sent: 03 June 2009 21:47
To: enquiries
Subject: The Gap Road - TRO dates

Sirs, I understand The Gap Road's TRO is lifted during the month of September and the first two weeks in October 2009. Could you please confirm the dates that this PROW is open to motorised vehicles, ie 01/09/2009-14/10/2009 I did look through and search your website, but found nothing regarding the TRO dates.
Kind regards

I received the following reply:

From: Eifion Jones [mailto:Eifion.Jones@breconbeacons.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 4:36 PM
To: lawrence@trugga.co.uk
Subject: The Gap Road - TRO dates

Dear Lawrence,

Thank you for your email.

The ‘open’ period is between the 1 September and the 15 October (and during March).

Please bear in mind that the route is now a restricted byway and, as a result, any vehicular rights that existed along it were extinguished by the NERC Act 2006.

Although this has not been tested, driving the route in the ‘open’ period may be an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 (i.e. driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on the restricted byway).

The route may be subject to exceptions in the NERC Act but none of these have been tested either and no applications have been made to claim the route as a Byway Open to All Traffic.

Regards,
Eifion Jones

Swyddog Hawliau Tramwy/Rights Of Way Officer
Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
Plas y Ffynnon
Ffordd Cambrian/Cambrian Way
Aberhonddu/Brecon
Powys
LD3 7RN

Ffôn/Telephone - 01874 620452
Ffacs/Fax - 01874 622574

I would like you to consider the above before you decide whether you want to drive this byway, and if you want to proceed, decide on how you want to drive it.

The bottom line is:
1) You would theoretically be breaking the law if you drive a motorised vehicle on a Restricted Byway.
2) If caught, prosecuted and taken to court, it would be up to you to prove your innocence

GLASS/NERC comment
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

Lawrence

[damrabbit]

Better start the protests now then


FREE THE FOG 12

[andysd1]

Better start the protests now then


FREE THE FOG 12

its going to be about 15, as some are doubling up, but do love it.
my wife will pay to keep me there

[Drift]

Ive posted the details on CRAG and will report any feed back.

Personally I think if we do go ahead the less time spent on the lane the better, meaning going down hill as opposed to going up the steps.

[alex]

I agree.
Not the sort of lane to be loitering around on.

I know Graeme wants to lead his group uphill, if they go up last, is that an issue? we will have sent most cars around the downhill route. Cant say anyone going in his group arent aware.
Is it worth seeing interest in anyone going into Graemes group?

I'm for downhill.

[weave67]

me to,, down hill all the way

[damrabbit]

i've been told i'm going downhill




that was off the wife

[Roo]

Sorry not being funny here, but why is it you come down it but not go up it please
It Seems a bit Crazy to me that does

[Drift]

If you look at the rock steps on the vids and the blown bridge (the area with the steep up and down crossing a shallow stream in the middle) they are easier in one direction, doing them in the "Harder" direction will mean more time on the lane and not accounting for breakages, you are in a quite remote area and if you break down its extremely difficult to get out if gravity is not on your side, hence the going down option.

The steps have been eroded quite a lot and they where a challenge three years ago when I last did it, and going at the blown bridge is now a challenge both ways I believe but the general way is still doable, where going up the steeper way without axle mods is a challenge and something you dont want to reverse out of.

We feel its only fare to point out the difficulties and if you do need towing out upwards you may need to buy the guy towing a new clutch, this is not and exaggeration.

Ill be going down, and the added bonus is that direction knocks off about an hours drive to the next lane

[andysd1]

well im easy, but would like to go down

[cheekychick]

well im easy, but would like to go down

so many things to say, mustn't, mustn't, mustn't

[yaki]

Ill be going down, and the added bonus is that direction knocks off about an hours drive to the next lane

Is the next lane Church Steps, or is it being avoided

[Drift]

Not sure on that one Chris, not done it I dont think, whats it like?

[Roo]

If you look at the rock steps on the vids and the blown bridge (the area with the steep up and down crossing a shallow stream in the middle) they are easier in one direction, doing them in the "Harder" direction will mean more time on the lane and not accounting for breakages, you are in a quite remote area and if you break down its extremely difficult to get out if gravity is not on your side, hence the going down option.

The steps have been eroded quite a lot and they where a challenge three years ago when I last did it, and going at the blown bridge is now a challenge both ways I believe but the general way is still doable, where going up the steeper way without axle mods is a challenge and something you dont want to reverse out of.

We feel its only fare to point out the difficulties and if you do need towing out upwards you may need to buy the guy towing a new clutch, this is not and exaggeration.

Ill be going down, and the added bonus is that direction knocks off about an hours drive to the next lane

Ahhh Right Thanks Ste, I thought it was to do with not allowed to do it what Lawrence was saying

Cheers for that

[Drift]

Nope you can go both ways but one way is now considerably more difficult than it was a few years ago, though the views are outstanding on the downward direction

[yaki]

Not sure on that one Chris, not done it I dont think, whats it like?

Phil and Trugga did it the last time they did The Gap, its about 10mins drive from the Brecon end of The Gap, its quite scratchy, some very interesting lean angles, a ford (very shallow) and some stone steps. Its not a very long lane but puts a big smile on your face

[Drift]

Darn it, it must be done then.........gotta get the paint off the wagon somehow