Commons Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 239A:"After Clause 44, insert the following new clause—"    ““DRIVING OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON COMMONS    No driver of any motor vehicle other than a commoner exercising a right of common shall cause that vehicle to be driven or parked on any area of common land or village or town green without the express permission of the owner of the land or of the commoners association.”” The noble Lord said: The purpose of Amendment No. 239A is to introduce a ban on any motor vehicle being driven on a common or green other than by a commoner exercising a right of common, or parking on it without the express permission of the owner of the land or the commons association. This is obviously a probing amendment to discover how the Government intend to prevent damage to commons and greens by indiscriminate parking. In some areas it affects agricultural management and I know of some areas where it has led to erosion and damage to the landscape. Damage to nature conservation and archaeological interests are also all too possible if people take their vehicles on to commons. Many commons are not fenced, hedged or walled, often making it easier to take vehicles on to them. I beg to move.