Decision details

Wiltshire Council is repairing a section of the Ridgeway National Trail which has been damaged by motorised vehicles. A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) was put in place in Spring and Summer 2019 to prohibit motorised vehicles to enable trail repairs to be made to some of the damaged areas. This was under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, section 14(1)(a). Additional work is required so a further order is sought for Spring and Summer 2020.

Following consultation with officers and due consideration of a response from a rights of way user, I give notice that I am making the decision set out in the attached report.

This decision was published on 20 April 2020 and will come into effect on 28 April 2020.

There is a permanent Autumn and Winter Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on this stretch of the Ridgeway, however, vehicular use during the Spring and Summer months has  further contributed to the already deep rutting of the surface and problems with poor drainage. This is damaging the archaeological features along the route and making safe access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders difficult. Access for other potential users such as mobility scooters and horse and carriages is almost impossible now.

Due to the route being within the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site and the extremely valuable and sensitive archaeology along the route, the standard materials the council would use for repairs such as limestone, type 1 stone sub-base and tarmac road planings have been deemed inappropriate. As an acceptable alternative in this setting, materials similar to the chalk and flint found locally have been used, which are appropriate to the location but are less durable. They may not be sufficiently robust to give adequate protection to the archaeological features along the route. These features contribute to the outstanding universal value that has earned the designation of this landscape as the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. Whilst testing by motor vehicles will be required to assess the durability of the trial repairs carried out in the late summer/early autumn of 2019, the repaired areas have not had the opportunity to consolidate and settle properly due to the unusually wet winter and early spring. Additional works to those areas will be needed before meaningful tests can be carried out, so a further temporary traffic regulation order (‘TTRO’) is required.

Wiltshire Council has a statutory duty to keep the surface of the byway in a safe condition for users, therefore the only option is to seek repairs to the severe ruts caused by the frequent passage of motor vehicles.

No statutory public consultation is required under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for TTROs made to enable repairs to roads to be undertaken. However, it is considered good practice to keep user groups informed.

One objection has been received from a user to the proposal, as detailed in paragraphs 16 to 18 of the decision report. It is possible to move the northern point of the proposed closure for motorbikes as requested. However, it is not possible to move the southern point as two of the test areas are within this stretch of The Ridgeway.