UCR: Zig Zag Lane

Location: Box Hill, Surrey KT20 7, UK
  • Overall Rating: 0
  • Location: Box Hill, Surrey.
  • OS Explorer Map 146, 'Dorking, Box Hill, & Reigate'.
  • Starting OS Grid Reference: TQ177519 
  • Starting GPS Co-ordinates: N51 25' 40" W000 31' 40"
  • Finishing OS Grid Reference:  TQ186513
  • Finishing GPS Co-ordinates: N51 24' 90" W000 30' 30"
  • To see: Box Hill (National Trust).
  • ALWAYS follow the Greenlane Code!
This lane has been long closed to vehicles, despite being shown as a UCR on the map. Shame, because Box Hill is simply awesome.



View Zig Zag Lane in a larger map

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who says it's closed to traffic? This route is more interesting than meets the eye: the lowest section provides the only access to the NT private road, the second section (as far as the crossing of the private road) is passable (but obstructed by the post in the picture), with a tricky junction at the top end, the top section is completely overgrown in parts, though largely traceable.

Dempo said...

You're right, and I will just clear up what I meant. I said it was closed to vehicles because, effectively, it is. You wouldn't get through.

From a legal point of view, you would be within your rights to attempt to drive this lane, with the important proviso that if the National Trust judges there to be a conflict of interest or a safety issue, they can reasonably prevent access. This may well be the case here. To quote the NT, "scope for increasing the opportunities for off-road motor vehicles is limited overall because of potential conflicts with other recreational activities and the National Trust's conservation purposes".

Dempo said...

However, and as you correctly say, the National Trust have erected posts preventing access to vehicles. We are legally allowed to remove obstructions on the lane, but I'm not going to go up against the National Trust. That is a job for GLASS.

Plus the lane is far too overgrown in places to physically be able to get a 4x4 through without damage to either the lane or the vehicle. With clarification of the National Trust's position on this lane, and a drastic program of clearance, this lane could indeed be driven again, but as its stands it's a 'no go'.

For more information, see http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-visits-activities/w-visits-activities-other/w-activities-other-motor_vehicles.htm

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the clarification. I don't think the NT has any special powers to prohibit use of a public road, but your comments now leave the position perfectly clear. In effect, the NT has to allow free public access to the private road part of the Zig Zag, without charge, else it would be under pressure from the highway authority to reopen the old public road.

Post a Comment

Please keep it clean!

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.