Box Hill prices for cyclists

[Alan M]

This was sent to me - I understand they will charge £600 for 250 riders - they really don't like us do they. I prefer Toys Hill anyway

Whilst searching the net I cam across your advertisement for the sportive below.

http://www.granfondoluciano.co.uk/70163 ... ?p=5&pno=0

As discussed during our telephone conversation, the Zig Zag road is privately owned by the National Trust. Due to the number of sportives using Box Hill, we need to issue licences and organise the calendar to ensure the smooth management of the property.

We aim to ensure two sportives don’t clash
We licence events to come through before mid day to minimise potential disruption with local communities and our visitors
As a charity paying for the upkeep of Box Hill, including the road, we are obliged to take opportunities to gain revenue to support this work.

If you are interested in running your sportive over Box Hill, please let me know how many riders you are proposing and the infrastructure you require, if any. If you chose not to use Box Hill for your event, I would expect your advertising to be removed from the internet.

Please get back to me either way.

Best regards,

Andrew Wright

The National Trust

Countryside Manager for the Surrey Hills East

07770 887682

[Marek]

If the road was smooth tarmac I would understand, but man, upkeep of the road, what upkeep. What a rotten money making scheme, is that really enforceable?

Cheers

Marek....

[Alan M]

well they own it so I suppose so

[quote="Marek"]If the road was smooth tarmac I would understand, but man, upkeep of the road, what upkeep. What a rotten money making scheme, is that really enforceable?

Cheers

Marek....

[Marek]

My suggestion would be to do the following:

Make the official route bypass the Zig Zag, but tell the riders on the day that if they wish to do the zig zag then feel free, although they need to be aware it is not part of the official route and that if they take it then it is up to them but is defo not part of the official route and they will receive a 1 second penalty for taking it. You could then sign the real route that would go around the bottom of box hill with nice small arrows and you could sign post the zig zag road as being NOT OFFICIAL ROUTE BIG ARROW UP BOX HILL.

Cheers

Marek...

[Paul H]

I think it would be worth checking the legality of this. If its a public highway and a public right of way, they may not have the right to charge (or we may not be obliged to pay).

[Marek]

I was thinking the same Paul, I don't think there are gates or anything or a way to stop people going onto that road as far as I am aware. Do they charge groups of cars that use this road for lets say road treasure hunts or mini club type things for driving on the road?

Is this just another way to screw cyclists because Box Hill has become popular for cyclists due to the Olympics.

[Phil H]

[quote="Paul H"]I think it would be worth checking the legality of this. If its a public highway and a public right of way, they may not have the right to charge (or we may not be obliged to pay).

[Alex P]

I vote for Marek's suggestion

[Paul H]

[quote]It is not a public highway or a legal right of way.

Maybe if as members of BC we could request they seek a legal opinion, or Huw could ask his friends at CW to do some adverse publicity on it

[quote="Paul H"][quote]It is not a public highway or a legal right of way.

[quote="Paul H"][quote]It is not a public highway or a legal right of way.

[nick de meyer]

i can still get under the gates at a slow (ish) speed just about

[Andrew G]

Have to say I don't understand the big attraction of Box Hill, to get from A to B I personally prefer the Headley road climb. I think it's a nicer route up and more picturesque.