East
Meon Countryside Access Team (EMCAT)
EMCAT is a group of volunteers working in partnership with East Meon
Parish Council, Hampshire County Council (HCC) Countryside Services and
other
groups to improve the local byways around East Meon in Hampshire. Our
aim is to make the byways an enjoyable
experience for all their legal users.
We intend to have 2 or 3 maintenance days every year each lasting 3 hours. If you would like to help improve your local environment then please contact us
The second was the Save Our Byways (SOB) campaign to improve the 5 Ways campaign. SOB was successfully launched at a public meeting. The campaign had the full support of the Parish Council and HCC Countryside Services and other user groups such as the Trailriders Federation also gave their support (e.g. by having a voluntary restraint). A successful grant application was made that enabled us to fill in the ruts and install new barriers. A volunteers day was organised in July 2009 to top off the ruts (see the picture on the left).
A second maintenance day was organised in April 2010 to address the drainage of Greenways West and to repair the carriageway at the barrier. You can see the before and after pictures above and below.
We intend to have 2 or 3 maintenance days every year each lasting 3 hours. If you would like to help improve your local environment then please contact us
Background
This group evolved from two distinct campaigns - the first to stop motorised vehicle usage along Halnaker Lane. Following a public enquiry a Traffic Restriction Order prohibiting motor bikes was implemented by HCC.The second was the Save Our Byways (SOB) campaign to improve the 5 Ways campaign. SOB was successfully launched at a public meeting. The campaign had the full support of the Parish Council and HCC Countryside Services and other user groups such as the Trailriders Federation also gave their support (e.g. by having a voluntary restraint). A successful grant application was made that enabled us to fill in the ruts and install new barriers. A volunteers day was organised in July 2009 to top off the ruts (see the picture on the left).
A second maintenance day was organised in April 2010 to address the drainage of Greenways West and to repair the carriageway at the barrier. You can see the before and after pictures above and below.
NewsThe last maintenance day was held on Saturday 17th April 2010 focussing on Greenways West byway at Five Ways, East Meon. About 20 volunteers turned up to improve the drainage, to repair the badly rutted byway at the barrier and to paint all the recently installed barriers. For pictures of the day click here
EHDC have initiated a "Spot the Drop" campaign to combat fly tipping - if you see any you can fill out a simple form. Click here for more details
EMCAT have participated in the promotion of HCC's Small Grant Scheme that joint funded (with the Parish Council) the major improvements at Five Ways in 2009. Click here to see the 5 minute film.
Please register your support here
before July 2009 maintenance
and after July 2009 maintenance
You can see how the lanes have improved at the SOB website.
As the SOB campaign had been successful in achieving its stated goals it was decided to wind down the campaign and establish the permanent EMCAT volunteer group that would try to improve any of the East Meon byways.