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NERC induced Property price crash

Press Officer Green Lane Association | 11.11.2005 09:35

It is estimated that thousands of homes across England and Wales currently accessed by a minor public roads, will suffer substantial loss of value following the introduction of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) bill.


Friday, November 11, 2005

Property price crash – Press release

It is estimated that thousands of homes across England and Wales currently accessed by a minor public roads, will suffer substantial loss of value following the introduction of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) bill.

Section 62 of NERC is well intentioned, setting out to remove illegal “nuisance” use of motor propelled vehicles from sensitive rural areas. However this poorly drafted and ill-conceived piece of legislation will leave thousands of properties with no legal vehicular access rights.

The bill, in its current form, removes public rights to drive motor vehicles on Minor public roads such as RUPPs (roads used as public paths) and UCRs (unclassified roads). In itself NERC is a landmark piece of legislation, never before has any Government sought to remove any our public rights of way, this in itself sets an unsettling precedent, however its impact on thousands of properties across the country will be enormous. NERC has already brought many transactions to a standstill, as blighted properties have become unsaleable during the transit of the bill.

The fix drafted by government, is to provide access for property owners via a yet to be defined, and understandably unproven, form of private right, this is a legalisation of access, which in law is substantially inferior to a public right. Legalising the use of the road does nothing to ensure landowners provide an unobstructed, suitably maintained route, as the current right of does, thereby accessing the property may be lawful, but could easily be made physically impossible.

It is unlikely, being a new procedure, that obtaining this as yet undefined new right will prove easy and more importantly quick, it also puts the onus on the property owner to claim and prove it. This situation is compounded by the legislation being backdated to May 2005. If the bill goes through as is, access rights have already been removed.

Estimated by the House of Lords to impact on billions of pounds worth of property, the proposed law will undoubtedly have little or no impact on its principle target – illegal drivers of quad bikes and off-roaders, a change in the law will not change the habits of those that choose to break the law.

Press Officer
GLASS – Green Lane Association
PO Box 48
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE26 2YY

www.glass-uk.org

Press Officer Green Lane Association
- e-mail: garyl@jaggededgedesign.co.uk
- Homepage: http://www.glass-uk.org

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

So What.....

11.11.2005 11:04

If it stops even a few idiots in oversized cars wrecking trhe countryside then so be it!

If it affects people who have gone and remortgaged themselves to the hilt based upon their properties 'current market value' then that'll teach them to read the small print.

This bill seems to affect people with little regard for any thing/one bar themselves...... I hope its passed.
(BTW, GLASS - stop wrecking my planet - go play Grand Turismo or something where you can gel your brain and not wreck my rights of way)

Silent Bob


answer to 'silent bob'.

23.11.2005 12:52

'silent bob', how stupid and ignorant you are! this bill paints every law abiding RUPP, UCR and BOAT user as a criminal. it will do nothing to stop illegal users. these are ancient rights of way which many have only remained open and passable due to motorised users. it panders to the fasicst ramblers who want the remaining 5% of all legal routes for motorised use all to themselves.
'silent bob'; please stay silent you moron.

robin scott

robin scott