The Government has failed to publish long-promised Regulations for designating Quiet Lanes {1} more than five years after the Transport Act (2000) gave hope to walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Quiet Lanes are shared use roads where the needs of these groups are given greater priority. They are meant to be identified by highway authorities {2} working with local communities.

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See below for local examples of where it has gone quiet on Quiet Lanes.

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Although highway authorities are able to designate minor rural roads as Quiet Lanes under the Act, they must abide by Regulations issued by the Government. But in the absence of the Regulations they have been reluctant to pursue Quiet Lane designations.

Countryside campaigners CPRE {3} are urging the Government to publish the Regulations without delay and have written to the Transport Minister about this. Local examples of where progress is being hampered include:

• HEREFORDSHIRE and BERKSHIRE. Herefordshire Council and Bracknell Forest Borough Council have told campaigners that they are waiting for Government Regulations and guidance before they pursue Quiet Lanes;
• CHESHIRE. One project collapsed when District Council funding was withdrawn. Only one small scheme has been completed to date and only one more is promised in the new Local Transport Plan. Campaigners are told that there is insufficient officer time to develop Quiet Lanes;
• SOMERSET. Campaigners note that a lack of Government support through Regulations and proper guidance has seen Quiet Lanes drop off the agenda;
• SURREY. Eight years of campaigning to protect some of England's oldest sunken lanes has been described as 'frustrating' after Surrey County Council fails to implement Quiet Lanes;
• HERTFORDSHIRE. Despite pressure from CPRE Hertfordshire for Quiet Lanes to be rolled out across the County, the County Council has committed only to monitoring existing Quiet Lanes in a pilot area and talking to neighbouring Buckinghamshire County Council about the possibility of developing Quiet Lanes in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the process appears to have stalled.

Paul Hamblin, CPRE's Head of Transport, said:

'Highway authorities are stalling on Quiet Lanes in the absence of Government Regulations, despite frequent requests from residents for them to be established. We urge the Government to help highway authorities take action to create a pleasant, less intimidating and safer country road network for the benefit of all users.'

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NOTE FOR EDITORS
Hard copies of CPRE's Guide to Quiet Lanes priced £5.00, are available from CPRE publications on 020 7981 2856.

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Recent statistics {4} from the Department for Transport show that traffic levels on minor rural roads continue to rise faster than roads in towns and cities, making the need for Quiet Lanes ever greater. Traffic is forecast to grow further - by 30% on these roads between 2000 - 2010.

Paul Hamblin concluded:

'The Government's failure to publish the Regulations is critical as highway authorities are currently finalising their five year Local Transport Plans 5. If sensitively designed Quiet Lanes are not included in those plans then an important opportunity to address the needs of vulnerable road users will be missed.

'Repeated assurances over the years from the Government that the Quiet Lanes Regulations will be out "soon" have come to little. The silence that has followed is now deafening. It appears the Government has forgotten England's precious country lanes.'

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Quiet Lanes are designed to pay special attention to the needs of walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and reduce the problems caused by the volume and speed of traffic and the presence of heavy lorries. Motorised traffic is not banned from Quiet Lanes, but shared use and consideration for other road users is paramount. Effective public participation between the highway authority and the local community is an essential part of developing Quiet Lanes. The Government said it would support the Quiet Lanes initiative in its 1998 Transport White Paper.

2. Highway Authorities are County Councils, Unitary Authorities, or Metropolitan Boroughs and are responsible for the management of the local road network.

3. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

4. Department for Transport (2005) Press notice 2005/0114 - Road Traffic in Great Britain - Q3 2005.

5. Local Transport Plans set out a local highway authority's policies and strategy on transport on a five-yearly basis. They are submitted to central Government, which approves and provides funding for the measures contained in the plan.