Residents in Alkham are campaigning to stop 4x4s and motorbikes from damaging byways and woodland.

More than 40 people met at Alkham Village Hall on Wednesday, February 17, to discuss the bad state of the byways open to traffic in and around the village.

Peter Smith, an Alkham resident, was just one of those attending who is sick of the problems caused.

He said: “Residents described damage caused to the surfaces of these byways and to surrounding land and properties.

“In many places these byways are deeply rutted by 4x4s and become impassible to walkers and horse riders.

“The deep ruts in some of the byways running down to the Alkham Valley Road and other roads has contributed to flooding and flints being washed on to roads in the recent heavy rain.

“Residents living on or near byways have also complained about disruption and damage.”

He explained that the byways are most often used at weekends and the damage caused has got much worse over the last few years.

Residents are disrupted by the noise and damage is made to land and fields adjoining the byways, Many of the trees which are part of a Site Of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) meaning it is protected woodland, have also been damaged.

The campaigners are now hoping to form an association to take action and deal with these problems. They aim to gather enough evidence for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).

Kent County Council has the power to impose a TRO, which can prohibit motor vehicles during certain months of the year or permanently.

There are eight legal grounds for TROs which include:- avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using the byway, preventing damage to the byway or any building near by, facilitating passage on the byway of any class of traffic including pedestrians and preserving the character of the way where it is specially suitable for use by people on foot or horse.

A committee is now being formed to take this forward.