CAMPAIGNERS in the Piddle Valley fear that bridleways and other rights of way could be ruined forever if they are redesignated as byways.

Dorset County Council is considering several proposals to redesignate the tracks as byways open to all traffic, which means that all vehicles including off-road vehicles and motorbikes, which are currently banned, would be able to use the routes.

The council has received a flood of applications because changes in legislation mean that from the new year, groups requesting to redesignate a

bridleway as a byway will not be able to use historical evidence to back up their claims.

But now people living along the picturesque valley are mounting a campaign to oppose the proposals and have organised a meeting to discuss what can be done. Sara Milne, who is

spearheading the campaign, said: "We in the Piddle Valley currently have two claims for the redesignation of bridleways.

"We are holding a meeting to impress upon Dorset County Council's rights of way committee members the strength of opposition to the proposed claims."

She said letters had been delivered to homes across the valley, and that West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin and South Dorset MP Jim Knight had been invited to attend.

Mrs Milne said: "If 20 off-road 4x4s or motorcycles were to be driven along these ancient downland trackways regularly on a Sunday afternoon the damage would be considerable.

"The banks and hedgerows would be undermined, the downland flora crushed in the ensuing mire."

She said that campaigners also feared for the future of wild birds including lapwings, yellow hammers and skylarks. "If these designation claims were to be allowed these bridleways would become virtually impassable either on foot or on horseback.

"The off-road vehicles lurching and skidding from side to side would be a danger to both walkers and riders.

"The paths would become deeply rutted, full of water and mud in wet weather and extremely dangerous if icy.

"They would become the exclusive preserve of the minority."

She said that campaigners opposed to byways being created were fighting for future generations.

"We are fighting for the preservation of these ancient trackways for the sake of future generations so that our grandchildren and great grandchildren may enjoy the peace of the downland in the way we do today."

The meeting is planned for November 21 in Piddlehinton Village Hall, starting at 7.30pm.