for Save Halesowen Countryside Facebook page - when available

I'm still plugging away with maintaining two official public rights of way in our 32 sq Kms Golden Green Triangle bounded by M5, A456, A491 that includes the Clent Hills Country Park.

Recently, on a snowy weekend in January, I saw a traffic jam of 4x4s at 1,000 feet on the summit ridge of Walton Hill.  Nine of them, at least, all out on essential travel (of course) at 9 pm one Sunday night!  One driver, quite understandably, told me that he thought it was a green lane.  They had all driven up from the main car park on Walton Hill Road.  It certainly looks most inviting on foot or in the cosy, warm comfort of your big, 'aren't I impressive', 4x4, with no gate or notice to tell drivers that the smooth, nicely surfaced track was not for them.  It is part of the N Worcestershire Path and is a bridleway.  Not for your motors, please - just your walking boots or, finite fossil fuel-free bikes - and not e-bikes, either!

1,000 feet high traffic jams on Walton Hill!

Hi Tim C - you are always brilliant at using your 4x4 to help others.  I was out walking for my daily coronavirus bout of exercise yesterday evening and came across motorists needing a little high altitude help!

There was traffic chaos on the summit ridge of Walton Hill (1025 feet) yesterday evening (24 Jan).  Only drive your car on bridleways on Walton Hill summit if your journey is essential.  The Halesowen bypass was empty but the narrow lanes on Walton Hill were busy and full of fumes and fuming drivers.  4x4s were getting stuck in long queues, past the trig point to try and find their way back down to tarmac.  Some were reversing on narrow lanes and footpaths when they met their mates wanting to go in the opposite direction!

Only drive your car on bridleways on Walton Hill summit if your journey is essential.  Remember, oil to drive over Nature and to rip up footpaths, bridleways and green lanes will never run out because polluting Automobile Man is top dog and can do what he likes without any consequences.

This is, partly tongue in cheek, of course!  My favourite, pathetic attempt to make a more serious point.

ON A SERIOUS NOTE: This is why we need the stricter regulations that would come if we had an official Clent Hills Regional Park over the full 32 sq Kms of our Golden Green Triangle, in the new WMCA W Midlands National Park.  The triangle is bounded by M5, A456, A491.  Scotland has its Pentland Hills Regional Park on the southern edge of their capital where you don't see the hills abused or over-used.  Our unofficial, unregulated, free for all, motoring chaos, Clent Hills should be similarly off-road to off-roaders.