- It seems that you may have been mislead as to the lawfulness of the Leith Hill Course and the BKB trail on the Hurtwood both of which have been constructed on common land without lawful consent.

- There have already been a number of accidents caused by speeding and aggressive mountain bikers with equestrians and pedestrians though no biker has remained in place for long enough to be asked for their name, of course bikes do not carry any form of identity registration.

- It is also interesting to note that the IMBA risk assessment guidelines for IMBA insured routes do not seem to have been followed by anyone nor has any attempt been to assess the risk of encouraging mountain bikes into areas where it would be illegal for mountain bikes but where pedestrians and equestrians have a right of access.

Says Bob Milton

It seems that the briefing referred to below does not mention any aspect of cycle riding usually mountain bikes on land covered by such legislation as s193 Law of Property Act, commons Act 1899 and access agreements under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside 1949. Nor does it deal with mushrooming commercial use of rights of way for timed Sportives which in essence are races against the clock on bridleways.

I am led to believe that you have taken on the legal responsibility for the recently unlawful construction of a mountain bike down hill event course on Leith Hill Surrey and is encouraging the use of such courses and general recreation land even though it is a criminal offence as no rights for cyclists [ie vehicles] exist.

It seems that you may have been mislead as to the lawfulness of the Leith Hill Course and the BKB trail on the Hurtwood both of which have been constructed on common land without lawful consent.

There have already been a number of accidents caused by speeding and aggressive mountain bikers with equestrians and pedestrians though no biker has remained in place for long enough to be asked for their name, of course bikes do not carry any form of identity registration.

It is also interesting to note that in the case of Leith hill and the Hurtwood [Holmbury St Mary s193 and CA1899] the IMBA risk assessment guidelines for IMBA insured routes do not seem to have been followed by anyone nor has any attempt been to assess the risk of encouraging mountain bikes into areas where it would be illegal for mountain bikes but where pedestrians and equestrians have a right of access.

We have already seen a commitment by Waverley BC which manages Frensham common [s193 and CA1899] to remove the cycle route direction signs and the no horse signs from the common though this is still incomplete.

I look forward to some urgent dialogue