Press Release: CPRE lends help to Pathwatch trial in North Hampshire

CPRE lends help to Pathwatch trial in North Hampshire

The Campaign to Protect Rural England's Hampshire branch is encouraging its members and the public in Basingstoke and Deane to pro-actively support a trial scheme recently instigated by Hampshire County Council. The CPRE is responding to a request from the Council to environmental groups to help address the inappropriate use of motor vehicles and other intrusions to the countryside.

Incidents of vandalism, fly-tipping and inappropriate use of vehicles can be reported to Pathwatch directly, or to CPRE Hampshire's office.

The trial follows a similar, successful pilot scheme in West Sussex, which resulted in 200 warning letters being sent by Police to offenders, resulting in significantly lower vehicular related problems.

The public are being asked to look out for the illegal use of '4x4s', motorcycles and quadbikes on Public Rights of Way, or the irresponsible use of legitimate motor vehicles on Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs). Incidents of vandalism, particularly to signage, or illegal access to private land next to public rights of way, and fly-tipping off the main highways, are all matters to address.

Donald Stewart, chairman of the CPRE's local Transport Campaign Group, said:

"Our membership strongly supports this initiative which complements some existing campaigns. We can collect and report incidents to Pathwatch up to the end of September 2009."

Every incident report must include:

Date and time
Location
Whether on a right of way or a private track
Registration number(s)
Description of vehicle(s) and person(s)
What happened? Photograph in support when recording vehicle tracks and fly-tipped material.

Forms are available if required from CPRE Hampshire.

You can report incidents to:

Pathwatch - Tel: 0845 600 1747 or email: community.safety@hants.gov.uk
Or CPRE Hampshire: Tel: 01962 843655 email: info@cprehampshire.org.uk.

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Notes to editors

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Becky French or Pam Mason, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 843655
Email:admin@cprehampshire.org.uk

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123 Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney000@aol.com