Following a meeting between the Ministers and officers from the Departments of Transport; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; and Tourism and Leisure, a decision has been made to introduce a permit system to restrict the use of off-road motorbikes on green lanes in upland areas.
However, upland tracks used by motorbikes and 4-wheel-drive vehicles may close earlier in future years in a bid to control the amount of damage done when tracks are at their wettest.
The most vulnerable upland tracks are due to be closed for this winter from 1st November.
Minister for Transport David Anderson MHK said, "The condition of certain upland tracks and areas adjacent to them was raised in the media earlier this year and this inter-departmental meeting was in response to the concerns that were raised.
"The Green Lane User Group, whose purpose is to bring together specific users of green lanes, namely 4-wheel-drive motorists, motorcyclists, horse riders and mountain bike riders, meets regularly to act as a discussion forum between the various users and those Government agencies tasked with the upkeep of the tracks.
"The remit of this inter-departmental meeting was to investigate the concerns raised by the public in the media.
"At present, there are restrictions to 4-wheel-drive vehicles on the upland tracks, for which the drivers require a permit. It has been suggested that a similar permit scheme could be used on these tracks for motorcyclists, but we have no intention of introducing this at present."
Director of Highways Bruce Hannay explained, "There is a misconception that the tracks used by motorbikes and other off-road vehicles are footpaths and that there should be no vehicles on them.
"The tracks which are used by the motorbikes and four-wheel-drive vehicles are public roads open to these vehicles, even marked tracks across the uplands.
"The Department has an ongoing programme of work on the tracks. However, with limited resources, we can only carry out a limited amount of work.
"Tracks which have had work carried out on them in the last year include Rollick Road, Skyhill and Ballacuberagh in Lezayre, Conrhenny and Honey Hill in Onchan and Slieu Dhoo in Michael.
"In the coming year, work will be carried out in the Michael Hills, Ballacuberagh, Glen Mona in Maughold, Honey Hill, Barnell in Patrick and Cordeman Road in Malew."
