Well, its been a long time since the last Club member update has been posted and I felt it was time to fill you in on what has been happening over the last year and our future plans for the LQ site now that full planning permission has been granted.
Firstly, I would like to apologise for the lack of Club member news letters - due to the long and drawn out planning issues our time has been limited and unfortunately some jobs just never reached to top of the pile!
2006 is a milestone year for the Langdale Quest - the site has now been open to the public for a decade and has, finally, been accepted by the Government as the most sensible way forward in providing for our type of recreation, namely 4x4 off-road driving.
It has taken over 8 years and cost is excess of £50,000 to finally achieve our goal. This achievement has only been possible through the continued support of you (our customers) using the site and the 1000's of letters which have been sent in to the National Parks (the planning authority).
Our achievement (yours and mine) has been to secure a permanent site where our recreation of off-road driving can be undertaken without upsetting other user groups and because the site is managed, reduce the impact of our activity on the environment.
The LQ site is now well and truly on the map. Clubs, groups and individuals travel from all 4 corners of the UK and some even from Europe to experience the freedom and adventure that the site has to offer.
Over the past 12 years the number of 4x4 driving sites in the UK has fallen from around 250 to a mere 80 or so. As insurance premiums and planning policy escalate this will, I am sure, lead to further closures.
Its more important than ever that site rules are adhered to, ascents are ascents and descents are descents for example. Please only enter the LQ site on days that the site is open and respect the speed limits.
Every time someone, somewhere on site breaks a site rule it gives the Forestry Commission (the ones that grant the licence to use the land!) ammunition which they can use to restrict our on-site activities further.
Its only because the LQ site is run so effectively that the Authorities were left with no choice but to grant planning consent.
In a recent letter issued by the Forestry Commission it is stated that no similar licence for use of land by 4x4s for recreational purposes will be issued. This in effect now prevents any other private company negotiating a deal to use any Forestry Commission land in the UK.
Turning this statement round, any legitimate use of 4x4 vehicles on Forestry Commission land for recreational purposes will only be possible at the Langdale Quest site and on no other area of FC land.
The explanation behind such a far reaching statement was due to a shift in policy and harsher environmental constraints.
From a commercial perspective this is actually a bonus. Overnight our Langdale Quest facility became exclusive! In recent years a couple of sites have tried and failed to replicate our achievements, their main flaw was site size.
For a number of reasons, our forecasts show a continued increase in demand for the LQ site. We will at some point need to develop a management programme which will be able to maximize the volume of traffic through the site - watch this space!
We have set down a number of aims for the next 12 months and they are as follows:
1. Monitor and reduce further the Environmental impact of our activity on the forest using careful route planning and sensitive methods of repairs.
2. Re-route all LQ trails - this will both help with ensuring the suitability of the terrain within each route and also re-fresh the navigational aspects.
3. Re-launch the Annual Club Fest with a range of special activities involving skills such as orienteering, night driving and special vehicle challenges. All will be revealed later this year!
4. Develop the car park area to include permanent type buildings including briefing/refreshment facility and on-site toilets!!
So, in a nutshell, thanks for your support and patience - I'm sure 2006 will see many changes to the LQ site.
Its re-assuring to know that despite our escalating world of red tape, do gooders, nimbys and power greedy officials at least one small area (well 10,000 acres!) of forest has been secured for the future of our activity.
Andrew R.J.Young
Bickley |
