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Devil's Punchbowl "quiet lane" - Tom (14th Nov 2011 - 11:25:21) On Sunday morning, we took our young children for a walk along the new (what I thought would be a) cycleway they are building parallel to the old A3. It seems that rather than being a cycleway, it is a "quiet lane", and there was a light but steady flow of cars along it the whole time. Was this always the plan? It currently goes as far as the route has been built to date - to Gibbett Hill - but seems to be under construction further. This seems to undermine one of the main aims of the project!

Re: Devil's Punchbowl - Jeanette (14th Nov 2011 - 13:44:16) Comment from National Trust today was that the old A3 is being taken up and cars will only be able to access from the Hindhead crossroads up to the National Trust cafe. Not sure where this new cycle path is.

Re: Devil's Punchbowl - Susie (14th Nov 2011 - 18:19:57) The cycle path is currently being built but meets up with the 'quiet lane' that has always been there (as long as I've been walking there). The only traffic I've ever met on there is the warden picking up after night drinkers have left their mess.

Re: Devil's Punchbowl - Richard (14th Nov 2011 - 20:29:35) Maybe people are not aware, but there are "BOATs" across the common (Byways Open to All Traffic). The National Trust can not just close these. Memory serves there is one that leads from opposite the cafe, passes just downhill from the Gibbet itself, and then crossed the old A3. This link on the Higways site gives the current plan. http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/3841.aspx

Re: Devil's Punchbowl - Brian (15th Nov 2011 - 20:53:11) Is this not (what a terrible use of the English kanguage, I'll be spelling Millennium with one n next) the access to the Youth Hostel? Brian

Re: Devil's Punchbowl - Tom (16th Nov 2011 - 10:20:27) Thanks for your thoughts all. I understood that access to the Youth Hostel was going to be from the north, but unless the "quiet lane" stops at Gibett Hill, it looks like being a through route (possibly because of the BOAT). Seems a shame that there will still be traffic drving through the area - when so much work / tree clearance etc. was done elsewhere to avoid that. Wardens / disabled vehicles etc. are one thing - but regular cars just choosing to park at Gibbett Hill rather than walking from the National Trust car park seems a bit of a shame.

Re: Devil's Punchbowl - Lesley (22nd Nov 2011 - 16:39:59) A family walk along this lovely path turned out to be far from the relaxing experience I'd imagined. Cars, mostly driven by young, fit cyclists with bikes in the back (couldn't they have left their vehicles in the large car park at the start?) passed at regular intervals so we had to keep the children close all the time. This narrow Byeway Open to All traffic (BOAT), inappropriately called a 'quiet lane' was also used by a quad bike and no doubt will become busier with other motor vehicles as word gets around. Before there's a nasty accident, something needs to be done. The Road Traffic Regulation Act (1984) empowers local authorities to make a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) that restricts motorised vehicles for any of the following reasons: avoiding danger; preventing damage / inappropriate use; preserving the character of the area. I think as many residents as possible should make their feelings known now rather than waiting until the inevitable happens.

Re: Devil's Punchbowl - Richard (22nd Nov 2011 - 18:42:06) I would oppose closing or downgrading it. I would rather the issues were managed so they don't become problems, eg. anti-social use being dealt with by the perpetrators of said abuse being dealt with by the appropriate authorities

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