Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent off-road vehicles used for recreational purposes from causing damage to (a) farmland and (b) the countryside in Wellingborough constituency.

We recognise that these unsealed routes often provide essential vehicular access for residents and businesses without causing damage or disturbance. Whilst many users make use of their rights in a responsible way, we are aware of disturbance caused by excessive use of off-road motor vehicles on some unsealed routes. We consulted on banning vehicles from green lanes as part of the 2019 Landscapes Review, but a legislative ban to remove vehicular rights was not supported by the public. We believe that the current Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process is legally robust enough to protect these routes on farmland with carefully targeted local action to protect sensitive areas, while allowing vehicle users to responsibly enjoy the countryside. It is the responsibility of local authorities to issue Traffic Regulations Orders to protect sensitive areas where necessary.