Rallying Cry: Save Our Stages, Says MSA
Motor Sports Association calls on all rally fans to help preserve stage rallying
Save our forest (rallies)
With the only representative of leisure users in the panel being the Rambler's Association, The UK's motorsport governing body, the MSA, fears that "the interests of motor sport will not be considered in the panel's final report".
The disastrous impact of this," says the MSA, "would be to risk motor sport being excluded from both the public forest estate and any of the forests transferred into private ownership."
So if you want your voice - and the voice of the motorsport enthusiast - to be heard, shout now and shout quickly, because the deadline for submissions is Sunday, 31st July.
You can peruse the list of questions below, and submit feedback to the consultation by answering as many of the questions as you wish, and e-mailing them, along with your name, to forestrypanel@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Survey questions:
Q1 - What do forests and woods mean to you?
Q2 - What is your vision for the future of England's forests and woods?
Q3 - What do you feel to be the benefits of forests and woods to:
a) you personally;
b) society as a whole;
c) the natural environment; and
d) the economy?
Q4 - We would like to hear about your suggestions of practical solutions and good practice which can be replicated more widely.
Q5 - What do you see as the priorities and challenges for policy about England's forests and woods?
A massive thanks to Nick Williams (NWVT) for tipping us the wink on this one
OI think the MTB fraternity also gathering campaign together.
So we need to make sure all the other leisure interests are heard. And that means Rallying, trials, green-laning, MTB, heck even horse riding I suppose!
ps - my form's off too
Mind you, it makes more sense to make sensible representations now than to bleat about it later if motorsport is restricted.
Response sent.
I remember the days of the old Lombard RAC Rally thundering through Clumber Park, Clocaenog etc; where has it all gone?
I've completed and submitted the form, together with my views on all aspects of leisure useage (albeit slightly slagging off some (ho)motorcyclists who feel its funny to thrash up and down locally, damage the surroundings and generally frighten everyone (except me with a shelaleigh...)
Funny how the panel appears on the face of it to be made up of only ramblers, as if they are the only people to use the forests and woods!
I suggested a new panel made up of a more representative cross section, to include people from the MSA, youth services (Scouts and Guides), etc; I also suggested that they could profitably make better use of their facilities by running Ray Mears-type survival courses etc.
personally, I feel that they are stuck in the seventies, they have no 'identity' etc; they need bringing into the 21st centuary with new logos, a new, fresh governing panel, greater integration (and by that I mean they should be 'inclusive' in the way they encourage people to use the forests and woods, rather than 'exclusive').
Wether they actually read, and then act on the forms we submit is another issue....
Bring back the Group B monsters I say!
Must be some scope for educating our (increasingly urban) population, especially children of the benefits of our forests etc.
Would be a safer place for cyclists if cycle lanes put through also (vs. the roads). Bracing myself for the backlash from cyclists here!
Could be more facilities however like barbeque spaces, camping sites and picnic areas (even if we do end up paying for some of them - as revenues would help guarantee their survival).
Over the decades, ney centuries we have lost most of our woodland and must protect the remainder for the future populations to enjoy also. Rallying, a bit like shooting leaves the countryside alone most of the time, therby allowing species to thrive based on appropriate management.
I remember the days of the old Lombard RAC Rally thundering through Clumber Park, Clocaenog etc; where has it all gone?
I've completed and submitted the form, together with my views on all aspects of leisure useage (albeit slightly slagging off some (ho)motorcyclists who feel its funny to thrash up and down locally, damage the surroundings and generally frighten everyone (except me with a shelaleigh...)
Funny how the panel appears on the face of it to be made up of only ramblers, as if they are the only people to use the forests and woods!
I suggested a new panel made up of a more representative cross section, to include people from the MSA, youth services (Scouts and Guides), etc; I also suggested that they could profitably make better use of their facilities by running Ray Mears-type survival courses etc.
personally, I feel that they are stuck in the seventies, they have no 'identity' etc; they need bringing into the 21st centuary with new logos, a new, fresh governing panel, greater integration (and by that I mean they should be 'inclusive' in the way they encourage people to use the forests and woods, rather than 'exclusive').
Wether they actually read, and then act on the forms we submit is another issue....
While I wouldn't say I'm anti-Rambler, they do seem to think they are the custodians of the countryside. That's why it's important that all interested 'stake-holders' are represented on any board.
Considering there are 365 days a year, and 52 weekends - Rallying (Motorsport in general) uses a very small percentage of any forest a year. In fact, NYorks have already cut back possible uses to only the Trackrod & R.A.C. Add in the charges for use - they do very well out of Rallying.
I will be sorting out a reply to this in due course if nothing else to stop these people from the ramblers claiming they represent me.
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