ACU & TRF Agree Landmark Rights of Way Deal
By TMX Archives on 7th Mar 08
The Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) and the Trial Riders Fellowship (TRF) have agreed a new deal that will help secure the future of many Rights of Way across the country.
As National Governing Body for motorcycle sport in the UK, the ACU are one ofa number of Statutory Bodies' appointed to by Government to receive notices andnotifications about changes to Rights of Way across the UK. These range fromthe simple re direction of a footpath to the complex and wide rangingimplications of the on going Cross Rail development in London.
Oncesorted, information and notices relevant to motorcycle sport and recreation aredisseminated to a network of local ACU and other volunteers who can takewhatever action they feel necessary in light of the information theyreceive.
However, a significant decline in the number of individualsprepared to receive and handle this information over recent years has meant thatthe whole system has slowly lost its efficiency in many areas of theUK.
The new deal between the ACU and the TRF will see all future noticesbeing sent directly to the TRF for distribution amongst both the existingRespondents and active TRF members in relevant areas of the UK.
AndyGerrard, Chairman of the TRF is delighted with the new deal, We have beendiscussing this with the ACU for some time, and I am personally delighted thatwe have agreed this new system, explained Gerrard. The lack of volunteers onthe ground willing to undertake this work has become a serious flaw in thesystem and is an issue for both the TRF and ACU. I am confident that with acombination of the existing ACU Respondents and some of our active TRF memberswe will be better able to give all relevant Rights of Way notices the attentionthat they require he continued.
ACU Business Development Manager DaveLuscombe is equally delighted with the new agreement, Access to Rights of Wayis fundamental to both motorcycle sport and recreation, explained Luscombe.
At a time when the volunteer work force' is declining across all sectors,it is vitally important that organisations with similar agendas and objectiveswork together to achieve the results that they both need. It has been apleasure to work with Andy to reach this deal and I believe that this marks thebeginning of a closer working relationship between the two organisations for thewider benefit of all sporting and recreational motorcyclists explainedLuscombe.