§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
What damage has been done in recent years to long-distance national footpaths through the unauthorised use of motor vehicles. [HL336]
§ Lord WhittyThe nationally recogised long-distance trails in England are made up of footpaths, bridleways, byways open to all traffic, roads used as public paths and unclassified roads (and in some places metalled roads). Over some lengths of these trails there is a right of vehicular access and it is on these routes that there are some examples of damage being caused by motorised use. However, neither the Countryside Agency nor ourselves are aware of significant damage having been caused to long-distance footpaths by unauthorised use of vehicles.