Controversial Postings - Part 2 . Hehheh!

[Lord Braykewynde]

Whilst at Clumber Park we went for a ride to Castleton, Blue John Mine. Her Ladyship and my ol' Duchess went to the shop so I stayed in the car park due to my gammy knee which I'm waiting to see the Orthopods about. It was so peaceful watching the Paragliders. My peace didn't last long because 4 people on scrambling bikes decided to stop by me, with engines revving, while admiring? the Paragliders. Eventually they rode off dressed and looking like medieval knights with their chargers throbbing between their legs. For the rest of the time I was there I could hear them in the distance, the constant noise. This got His Windyship to contemplate and philosophise. I normally philosophise first thing in the morning whilst sat on the throne but the change of scenery helped a lot. I thought what a difference in pastimes. One pastime/sport is at one with nature and the environment. Soaring above the dales while riding the thermals in silence with the exception of birdsong like skylarks. The other pastime/sport is all about destroying the environment. Pollution in all its forms, including noise. Destruction of the delicate, thin topsoils and its biodiversity of chalk uplands. Alright, I accept that sometimes paragliders might come down in the middle of a field of crops but those crops take 12 months to replace. Chalk uplands have taken millions of years to evolve and cannot be replace as easily, in fact they will take thousands of years just to heal their scars. I wondered what was going through the scramblers minds as they watched the gliders. Did they admire them and realise that they are at peace with nature or did they think they were sissies and need to do a macho sport if they want a life?

Over to you lot to inform His Windyship of where my thoughts are wrong :O)

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Lord B. I must agree with you regarding the noise from scrambler bikes. However it is a growing sport and could be classed in the same catergory of "green laning" with 4x4s. Where does one draw the line between a sport and a nuisance?

Q. What is the definition of a motor bike?

A. something hot and throbbing between the legs.

I personally do not like the constant noise disturbance especially on a week end but where are the participants going to ride their bikes? Is it a question of "not in my back yard" (NIMBY) state?

I therefore can see and understand both sides of the argument and it is one where I would not like to get into too deep.

 

[sparkes]

I agree (and I ride bikes) but unless there is somwhere to go with these then they are doing nothing wrong.

But, If you wish to stop damage in the countryside, ban the ramblers as it has been proven that they cause more damage than any other users

Steve

 

[Fubar]

anyone who know that area well (my future mother-in-law lives in Chapel-en-le-Frith so we are down there often), knows that the place is usually crawling with all types of activity, especially during Bank Holidays.

I believe there ARE concerns about erosion of Mam-Tor and the area in general but, aside from banning visitors altogether there is not much anyone can do about it as it is the Ramblers, Mountain Bikers, Scramblers, 4x4 AND hatchback drivers who bring money into the area.

I'm sure even the paragliders had to use some kind of transport to get their kit to an appropriate take-off point.

LB, you will have to console yourself with the fact that these beautiful places will still exist when the human race is long since extinct.

M (",)

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Actually I was parked next to two paragliders in the carpark, one driving a VW Polo estate and the other a Renault Scenic. Somehow I don't think they went off road to drive to the carpark though ;O) Regarding the beautiful places still existing Mark I just wish I had your faith. If the human race left this earth tomorrow millions of acres of once beautiful places will be no more. They are already destroyed. Sometimes I wonder how these places were populated without the money from "Ramblers, Mountain Bikers, Scramblers, 4x4 AND hatchback drivers". Now that the farmers have been educated, albeit at a massive cost in subsidies for setaside etc. and wildlife, from either the banning of chemicals,leaving fields fallow or reintroduction of species, the authorities should start by educating the general populace of their pastimes/pursuits. It's a last hope and personally I believe that the people who destroy the environment like the peaks should be taxed for their hobbies. You mentioned the word "money" Mark and that's what it boils down to. Now wouldn't it be wonderful for those who destroy to know their taxes will be used to help repair the damage. Their taxes would actually create employment. Why make EVERYONE pay for access to the Park like the authorities are talking about. By far the greatest majority only want to enjoy the vistas and admire the landscape, why should they have to pay for people who don't care about their grandchildrens legacy.They already pay into numerous visitor attractions like Chatsworth and Hardwick and their money is actually being used to save these historic houses, not to destroy them.

 

[Fubar]

my point was that I think we are way past the point of control in areas like the peaks - try to "control" or tax any one hobby and, not only will they be up in arms so will the businesses (pubs, hotels, shops, etc) that rely on their income.

many things cause destruction, human beings, volcanos, tsunami, hurricanes, even ice-ages but, with the exception of humans also help to CREATE many of our beautiful and most stunning vistas.

my faith lies with Nature, not humans. ultimately She has a way of wrestling back control, and will do so again. Our only lasting legacy will be nuclear fuel rods sealed in concrete and steel bunkers miles underground - great, eh?

M (",)

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Unfortunately Lord B. it is the way of life for today's society. However there must also be progress and to progress some of our existing facilities will suffer. Where do you draw the line between "progress" and the destroying of the world? The Green Party are objecting to just about any form of progress society wishes to make but then states that what we have is not suitable - what do they want? eg tidal power at the Severn estuary was objected to because of the Severn bore - a tidal wave twice a year. Could have done away with both Hinkley Point and Aberthaw power stations and produced clean efficient energy for decades - if the French can do it why not us. It is the PC and nanny state dictating and being listened to. Bah humbug to them all.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Colin, how long has motorbikes destroying delicate eco-systems for pleasure been progress? That was the original posting. I accept there has to be progress but as years go by it progresses at a frightening rate. Fortunately I wont be around but at least I can go to my plot in the ground with a clear conscience of speaking out against wanton destruction. When I'm in the Braykewynde family mausoleum I want them to engrave on my headstone "Here lies His Windyship - stiff at last". The prescriptions for Viagra are costing me a fortune.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Lord B. like all other forms of invention the original use for the motor bike was hailed as a breakthrough in transport at little expence. It is us the human race and modern day society which has abused this use. Although I have never been interested in motor bikes I can fully understand their use for reliable and fairly economical day to day transport for the average person. The break into the reckless abuse of the countryside and noise abuse to the human ear is only a recent thing with the advent of scrambler bikes. A far worse thing in my opinion is the introduction of these mini bikes for youngsters. An adult pulled out of a side turning in front of me the other day riding one of these ridiculous machines with his a**e just off the road, no crash helmet, no number plate, no lights/siganls and probably no tax or insurance. He proceded up the road with the engine screaming and attempting to do wheelies. Now this type of person should, in my opinion, be locked up and the key thrown away. The middle eastern people have the right idea whereby make the panalty fit the crime. However our supporters of Freedom and Liberty and the PC brigade wont tolerate this in this country and we are too damn soft to let them get away with it.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I bought a bike when I was a teenager, a second hand BSA Bantam. I collected it in the afternoon and immediately went for a spin. About 2 miles out of town I came a gutser on it, ending up in a ditch. I rode it back to town and that was the last time I ever got on a motorbike. I had learned my lesson :O) hehheh!

Approximately one year ago a motor cyclist was killed locally and his pillion passenger had horrific injuries, infact he hasn't recovered yet. A car pulled out of a side road in front of them and the car driver was on drugs, he's just been sent down. The motor cyclist was 15 years old, his pillion passenger was 13 years old. The childs parents are now collecting money to buy land where these kids can go and ride their motor bikes and hope to name it after the child motor cyclist. What I can't understand is the parents didn't seem to accept that his death was partly a fault of their own by screaming abuse in court to the car driver. Even by trying to get donations to buy land for kids and their bikes they are blaming the authorities because they had nowhere to ride them. Is it me? Am I missing a point somewhere or are some parents that thick or short in the grey matter department that they can't see they are partly responsible for his death by buying him a killing machine in the first place? I accept, like most parents, they will grieve for a long time over their son's death but people must act responsibly as parents, how the hell do they expect their offspring to do likewise if they don't set a good example.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

If they wer killed on the highway (side road) what were they doing on the road at the age of 15. The parents should have known better than to let their child use the road with a motor bike at at that age. In my opinion the parents should have been charged as accessories to the accident as without the bike on the road they would not have been killed. I just cannot understand a parent saying their child is not a bad child when he/she appears in court for committing an offence. Parental influence goes a long way in determining the actions of the child.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Forgot to mention at that age they would not have had tax or insurance on the machine therefore they were riding illegally - also the pillion at 13 was not a qualified person as the rider would not have passed his test at 15. In my opinion I have no sympathy for the children or the parents.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Exactly my point Colin. The only good thing that came out of it was that no innocent people were killed. It could have been my wife or daughter and her family that the kids rode their bike into and it could have been me who was grieving. Not once have I seen either the press or peoples letters to the press saying they shouldn't have been on the road in the first place. I suppose it's hard to point the finger of blame at the parents in their time of grief but somehow now they seem to be glorifying in it, with the aid of a local councillor (who is an idiot anyway), and trying to make him out to be a Saint and naming a park after him. What kind of message is that sending out to impressionable young kids?