'Urgent' attempts being made to stop 'joy-driving' vehicles at River Meon, National Park says
“Urgent” attempts are being made to stop “joy-driving” four by four vehicles causing environmental destruction along a riverbed of the protected River Meon.
As reported, campaigners staged a protest on Saturday as they accused Hampshire County Council and South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) of “sitting on their hands” and not stopping the reckless driving by issuing a simple Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
SDNPA has now told The News it is seeking to resolve the matter alongside the county council, which is the authority that has powers to implement a TRO.
Residents, conservationists and anglers held a demonstration in Mill Lane at Droxford as they blasted the “ongoing failure” of the authorities to shut down the "splash route".
At a shallow stretch of the river near Droxford, vehicles and motorbikes have been repeatedly driving along the riverbed for recreation. Residents and environmental groups say this activity is churning up spawning gravels, damaging river habitat and disturbing wildlife in one of England’s most important chalk streams.
The River Meon is one of only around two hundred chalk streams worldwide and supports species including Atlantic salmon, brown trout, water voles and otters. The land immediately upstream is the site of a project by SDNPA to reintroduce water voles to the area.
The River Meon is recognised by the government as environmentally protected habitat, meaning public bodies are expected to prevent deterioration of the river environment. Despite this, authorities have so far been accused of failing to use their powers to issue a TRO to prevent damage.
Campaigners say responsibility for stopping the damage has been passed back and forth between Hampshire County Council and SDNPA. Protesters say the county council has said any action will be deferred for “an indeterminate period” .
Now an SDNPA spokesperson has said: “The South Downs National Park Authority is working with Hampshire County Council as a matter of urgency, to request their intervention due to concern relating to the ongoing degradation of the River Meon at the T189 Mill Lane ‘splash route’.
“While the SDNPA holds certain discretionary powers, we cannot regulate traffic on the surfaced sections of Mill Lane. As the highway and traffic authority, Hampshire County Council is the body with the statutory responsibility to implement a comprehensive Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) where environmental harm is occurring. The authority stands ready to assist Hampshire County Council.”
Protest organiser, Adam Faulkner, said: "The authorities have the powers to stop the off roaders, but so far they’ve just passed the buck. Meanwhile, wildlife suffers, the riverbed is damaged, and local residents are left watching their natural heritage being destroyed, just so drivers can get a few minutes' thrill.”