TT green lane closure

Summary

The request sought documentation justifying the closure of green lanes during the TT and MGP events to ensure proportionality and necessity. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed internal emails confirming that temporary closures for specific lanes were approved to mitigate damage and danger, while rejecting permanent road extinguishment.

Key Facts

• Temporary closures are approved for the two-week periods of the TT and MGP events only.
• The Department refuses to permanently extinguish roads due to the illegal behavior of private individuals.
• Specific lanes identified for closure orders include Park Llewellyn, Snaefell Mines, Cronk Breck, and Gov Lochs Road.
• A mapping team and informational signage are being used as part of a multi-strand plan to obstruct unauthorized access.
• DEFA has requested permanent road downgrades, but the Department maintains that temporary measures are the appropriate legal response.

Data Disclosed

• 1st January 2024
• 2025-02-10
• 2025-03-14
• 4 Feb 2025
• 03 February 2025
• 18 pages
• 2 documents
• two week period
• D37
• nine miler

Original Request

Provide a copy of all documentation since 1st January 2024 relating to the rationale for closing green lanes during TT to show that the closure is justified, appropriate, proportionate and absolutely necessary. Include discussions with DEFA and economic development/ tourism.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Appendix 1 3

On Tue, 4 Feb 2025 at 09:15, wrote: Hi Ffinlo

Thanks very much. This seems a reasonable compromise and it will be interesting to see if the actions have a positive impact during TT/MGP periods.

Kind regards

From: Williams, Ffinlo (DOI)

Sent: 03 February 2025 16:14 To:

Cc:

Subject: RE: TT Greenlane Closures

Good Afternoon All,

As a reminder this is an action from CAG and from the meeting last year was in favour of this measure as he believes there is still plenty of offering around the Island for the riders who come over in TT and MGP.

I was working with the mapping team to have the greenlanes map up and running for last year, however, due to various staffing issues this has not come to light. I agree that this should hopefully help a lot of the issues but is only one strand of a plan to try to mitigate the problem. There will always be a “wilful” lot that come over and make there way onto the open hills, but the scheme is about finding multiple ways to obstruct this behaviour.

4 I see DEFA’s stance with requesting those roads be extinguished or downgraded permanently, and we have spoken in the past about the potential to offer other routes if something were to go, but, the Departments stance has to remain that we cannot extinguish roads due to the behaviour of private individuals taking it upon themselves to break the law. Unfortunately this would set a precedent in contrast to the legal duties of the Department to uphold the publics rights to use these highways. Obviously though, for these brief periods of time through the year the damage and danger is intensified and the temporary closure has been approved to mitigate this.

I should stress that these will only be for the two week period of TT and MGP respectively.

From reading through all your comments again I’ll be putting the order through tomorrow for:

• Park Llewellyn • Snaefell Mines • Cronk Breck • Gov Lochs Road

If there’s any that I missed please let me know ASAP.

With regards to the other troublesome tracks mentioned in email, where there are multiple greenlanes that could lead to the mountain, I am (again as part of CAG discussions) starting to map these and send the joiners out to install more informational signs (as has happened at the bottom of Snaefell Mines, so users know where the route takes them to viewing points, no TT access etc.

I hope this helps and clarifies.

Kind regards,

Ffinlo Williams Highways and PROW Manager

Dept of Infrastructure, Isle of Man Government
Sea Terminal, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Dept of Infrastructure, Ellerslie Depot Old Church Road, Crosby Isle of Man, IM4 2HA 6 The D37 is shown online as extending from Abbey lands to Windy Corner (Amal Road) whereas in reality as cul de sac, although not signed. It is quire sometime since I have been (or worked) on it so I am unable to comment on it's use to abuse in practice. On a similar note the D37 Ballachrink route can be used to access Windy Corner and I think it's way marked as a Mountain bike link route..certainly from the top down. The new signage showing 'Public way' when rolled out to replace Public footpath signage will do nothing to prevent abuse of such routes, in my personal opinion.

The Maughold Mountain track, Clarum, Glen Mona, nine miler etc and Gretch board track all offer access to the Black hut area, again marked as a Mountain bike link route and I know deflector fences, cones and signage are erected at that 'junction'! This area is of course far away any prying eyes and there is often much obvious abuse through the boggy/marsh area. However, the route being the longest on the Island is also very popular and accommodates much traffic so not an ideal candidate for TT closure!

Other greenlane routes that specifically allow access to perhaps the quieter sections of the course such as Ballachurry, Kerrowgarrow, Bluebell lane, The Dowse, Ohio and more, tracks that allow access to other upland areas such as Ballacubaugh, Narradale and St Lukes etc.. could arguably benefit from 'tempory closure' if considered 'troublesome' ones in the broader sense of the term! However, not for one moment would I support any such proposal for closures for this purpose but maybe all should be considered together with more specific and directly troublesome tracks.

I believe that targeted education, signage and clarifications as identified as necessary are in the short term necessary regardless and if a closure is deemed and justified as a part of this then it should be considered. It would certainly send a message out.

I will leave all these thoughts with you but I am equally happy to clarify any points as required.

Kind regards

8 stile! I have asked for DEFA signage at this (and other similar access points) to clarify users are entering 'an area of public ramblage' which in itself may deter wheeled users considering going further (although ebikers seem to slip under the radar given frequent 'official' signage over hill land on footpaths showing 'mountain bike link route'!

Of course if you look a map, this track along with Snaefell mines and indeed Maughold mountain, Glen Mona & Gretch Voar road all offer the same tempting access to the TT course. Alternatively anyone can, and many do use Nobles Park road (Windy corner). Perhaps promote this more? There is even an 'old road' off the Glen Roy road but virtually no one knows about that one, thankfully. However, if it were possible to have a 'permissive' access track (over the TT period only) over the public ramblage land then maybe the problem becomes much less of a 'problem'? This has been suggested previously as regards Snaefell mines I recall, going over to the Bungalow area.

As regards the Gov Loch/Cronk Breck (Peg Willeys road?) I am unsure how these tracks have any significance to troublesome TT traffic accessing the course. The last time I was at the Crosby end I dont recall seeing signage advising end of highway etc..and the cattle grid isnt operational these days of course. I know I have talked with about this section before. Of course, exploring the 'reopening' of this section is always a possibility as well?

As far as the Gov loch end is concerned and the issues witnessed with both damage to Glion Gill and occasional motor cycling beyond the end, it remains a highway through to Injebreck and maybe more robust signage and deflection fencing would reinforce the cul de sac element in the absence of opening the old routes again?

I will endeavour to outline the other tracks I have identified which see TT access traffic of one sort or another shortly and as and when I am able to but thank you again for your time and trust you will take my thoughts and suggestions into consideration.

Kind regards

On Wed, 20 Nov 2024, 3:13 pm wrote: Thank you Ffinlo for your early attention to addressing these issues and I note previous comments and observations all of which are of course relevant.
9

However, in my opinion road closures alone are likely to spread the problem even wider, certainly in the first instance as most arriving off road bikes will not be expecting closures.

We have to acknowledge that the vast majority of likely offenders are regular UK off roaders and the problem is widespread over there and they get away with it and unfortunately think nothing of it! They simply come with the same attitude so if a track is closed they are likely to just find alternatives and potentially will cause even more damage to property. Clearly Police manpower and DEFA staffing are unlikely to increase so it's my opinion that we need to identify the specific tracks and address them one by one.

I have been asking for a collective and early approach for some years as even basic steps appear not to have been taken, in my opinion, such as signage as used on age highroads. There are by my reckoning, some 7 exits onto the TT itself so a potential to maybe encourage access to those points. A visiting 4x4 texted me to express his astonishment that upon seeing bikes arriving at the verandah last year (they had used Sneafell mines and walked up to the course) that the marshals did nothing about it. Perhaps there is potential with marshals who may have special constable powers?

It concerns me that tracks with nothing to do with the TT course are being discussed and even suggestions of permanently closure. All visitors to our Island must surely be welcomed and we must undertake to manage them whilst they are here. We have time to formulate a full plan and yes perhaps targeted closure or two might be a part of that. I will happily comment on specific tracks shortly but unfortunately I am travelling over the next few days so please bear with me in this regard and allow me to expand further as i have a little more time to consider my words and thoughts.

I will email again.

Thank you for your time

10 Sent from Outlook for Android From: Williams, Ffinlo (DOI)

Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 11:20:18 AM To:

Subject: TT Greenlane Closures

Morning All,

I’ve been on the ol’ blower with the road regs team at the sea terminal and have been given the info and approval in principle to apply for greenlane closures to attempt to mitigate the xc riding during TT week.

I’ll bring it to the next CAG meeting but with most things TT related getting them in earlier is better. As such, in our professional opinions, which greenlanes are the troublesome ones which cause the issues.

Snaefell mines is obviously the main one, another dead end I can think of is Park Llewellyn but I’m not sure if we get any issues along there?

What does DEFA and think would benefit from temp closures?

Many thanks,

Ffinlo Williams Highways and PROW Manager

Dept of Infrastructure, Isle of Man Government
Sea Terminal, Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Dept of Infrastructure, Ellerslie Depot Old Church Road, Crosby Isle of Man, IM4 2HA 11

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Our ref: 4435625 13 March 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 10 February 2025, which states:

"Provide a copy of all documentation since 1st January 2024 relating to the rationale for closing green lanes during TT to show that the closure is justified, appropriate, proportionate and absolutely necessary. Include discussions with DEFA and economic development/ tourism."

Our response to your request is as follows:

Please see the information that we hold in scope of your request enclosed within Appendix 1.

Please quote the reference number 4435625 in any future communications.

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