Five common situations, not one generic complaint letter. Pick the one that actually matches what's happening, fill in the brackets with your own accurate details, and adjust the tone to fit you. These are starting points, never send one unedited, and never state something as fact that you haven't actually checked.
None of these are written to pressure anyone or to imply motor vehicle riders are owed more than what's already legally in place. Motor vehicle access already sits on a small, legally established part of the wider rights of way network, most of it is footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and every template here is about retaining what already exists, not expanding it.
Use this when a lane you ride already carries a Traffic Regulation Order and you want to understand it properly, not dispute it.
Subject: Enquiry about the current Traffic Regulation Order on [lane name or description]
Dear [Council Rights of Way team / named officer],
I ride [lane name or description, e.g. "the byway open to all traffic near X"] in [area], and understand there's currently a Traffic Regulation Order restricting access.
Could you let me know:
- The reason recorded for the order
- Whether it's temporary or permanent
- If temporary, the expected review or end date
- Whether there's a way to see supporting evidence, or to provide input before any decision on renewal
I'd like to understand the situation properly rather than assume anything, and I'm happy to help where useful, for example reporting on current ground conditions if that would support your review.
Thank you for your time,
[Your name]
[Your contact details]
2Responding to a consultation
Use this when a council is consulting on restricting or closing a lane and you want to support keeping it open. This is the one most worth personalising, a council reads real local detail far more seriously than a form letter.
Subject: Response to consultation on [lane name or description] — request to retain motor vehicle access
Dear [Council Rights of Way team / named officer],
I'm writing in response to the consultation on [lane name or description], to ask that motor vehicle access be retained.
I ride this lane as part of [describe: a regular local route, an occasional trip, etc.], and wanted to add my voice in support of keeping it open. For context, motor vehicle access already applies to a small, legally established part of the wider rights of way network, the great majority of footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways carry no such rights, and riders using lanes like this one already share them with walkers and horse riders as a matter of course. I'm not asking for anything beyond what's already legally in place.
If there's a specific concern behind this consultation, whether surface condition, erosion or something else, I'd welcome more detail, and would support reasonable measures (seasonal restriction, maintenance, monitoring) that address it without a full closure.
Thank you for considering this,
[Your name]
[Your contact details]
3A closure with no record you can find
Use this when a lane looks closed or is signed as closed, but you can't find any public record of a formal order covering it.
Subject: Query regarding the legal status of [lane name or description]
Dear [Council Rights of Way team / named officer],
I've recently found that [lane name or description], which I understand to be a [designation, e.g. Byway Open to All Traffic], appears to be closed or signed as closed to motor vehicles. I haven't been able to find a public record of a Traffic Regulation Order or other formal restriction covering it.
Could you confirm:
- Whether a formal order is currently in place, and if so, its reference and reason
- If not, whether the council is aware of the closure
I want to make sure I'm not riding somewhere I shouldn't, and equally wanted to flag this in case it isn't something your records currently reflect.
Thank you,
[Your name]
[Your contact details]
4Reporting damage or misuse
Use this proactively, to flag something before it becomes a reason a lane gets restricted, not as a complaint about anyone in particular.
Subject: Reporting condition of [lane name or description]
Dear [Council Rights of Way team / named officer, or Landowner],
I ride [lane name or description] and wanted to flag [describe what you saw, e.g. a specific stretch of erosion, a gate left open, fly-tipping] that I noticed on [date].
I'm reporting this because I'd rather see it addressed early than have it become a reason the lane is later restricted or closed. Happy to provide a photo or more detail if that would help.
Thank you for your time,
[Your name]
[Your contact details]
5Writing to your MP
Use this for a broader national or policy concern, not tied to one specific lane or council decision.
Subject: Green lane and byway access
Dear [MP name] MP,
I'm writing as a constituent and green lane rider to raise the subject of motor vehicle access to England and Wales's rights of way network.
Motor vehicle access already applies to a small, legally established part of this network, Byways Open to All Traffic and a small number of similarly designated roads. The great majority of footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways carry no such rights and remain entirely for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Riders using the routes that are legally open already share them with those users as a matter of course.
[If relevant: I'd ask that you bear this in mind if [specific consultation, bill or policy] comes before you.]
I'd welcome the chance to explain more about how this works in practice if that would be useful.
Thank you for your time,
[Your name]
[Your address, as a constituent]
Back to the app