Green laning Salisbury - 12th Feb

[Syncrobaz]

Might have to pop up and say hi, check out some syncros

I've only got 2 seats but I'm sure someone would let you ride shotgun

[jester1467]

I make that about 11 or 12 that sound really positive about coming along.

Are there any of you guys that have any extensive local knowledge or more like myself have done a few days on the plain and taken the day as it comes.

I will be checking out the Wilts council byways map in the next week or two as I believe the open byways and TROs are put on their website at the start of each month.

Still got to get my exhaust back on the van but that should be done at the weekend then the vans ready to go

[syncropatrick]

I feel the urge to stretch the Syncro muscle after a quiet few months. OK if another van comes along for the day for some non-damaging routes? I can make Tilshead for 1000.

[Fin]

My knowledge is pretty good - can take you off road all the way to the Westbury White Horse easily.
I used to ride mountain bikes all over there in my racing days.
I know some really muddy bits if you wanna get axle deep, also can show you the village up there and a hidden landing strip that is huge, we also found some amazing ranges with all sorts of vehicles with great big holes in them.
Some cool hidden valleys and woods too.
I'll ask a friend - he used to be the warden for the area about a map.
One main thing I know is don't go anywhere you see a red flag, that means heavy gun fire and weapons and stuff
Oh and you have to be pretty careful about booting it on the hard loose surfaced roads - that stuff will roast a set of tyres in a day easily.

[jester1467]

I feel the urge to stretch the Syncro muscle after a quiet few months. OK if another van comes along for the day for some non-damaging routes? I can make Tilshead for 1000.

Would be good to see you Patrick, all are welcome, if we need to split into a couple of groups because of numbers we can always meet up later on in the day.

Fin, that sounds great, I think the general feel is that its an easy day between a few sites and some play points, those that want to do some more extreme stuff can while those that dont can watch.

[Fin]

I'm sorry to say - I've just been booked for work
So I can't come
I'll give Stuart a buzz anyway and see if I can get an up to date map for you

[syncrodoug]

If any of you are running Memory Map I have some overlays of the the routes we did a couple of years back.
Salisbury Plain has lots of tracks but only a few have vehicular rights of way - marked as BOATs and ORPAs (tracks with green circular blops on the OS 25K series and orange on the 50K.
Your navigation has to be spot on to ensure that you stay legal.
Check with the county Highways Dept for any current TROs and with the MoD Rangemaster for military activity.
And don't run over any Great Bustards.
Doug

[HarryMann]

Oh and you have to be pretty careful about booting it on the hard loose surfaced roads - that stuff will roast a set of tyres in a day easily.

Seem to remember last time we lost 3 or 4 CVJs and burst boots when we were there.

(MatFlint ~2 , me ~ 1 boot, 1 joint) all front inners i think

[jed the spread]

Oh and you have to be pretty careful about booting it on the hard loose surfaced roads - that stuff will roast a set of tyres in a day easily.

Seem to remember last time we lost 3 or 4 CVJs and burst boots when we were there.

(MatFlint ~2 , me ~ 1 boot, 1 joint) all front inners i think

Wonder why,





The ruts on those lanes are deep despite them being easy to do, bellying out with the odd (as my son calls it) Dong!!!! is not unusual on these lanes Just make sure any CV boots have their clips on and filled with grease and you will be fine. On a more less expert note none of my rear ones on the westy have so I will be cracking on with that ASAP

jed

[HarryMann]

Seemed to be stone damage to boot and then water ingress washing grease out, 2 days later CV joint is shot

But yes, definitely because of the constant water splashes, a good reminder to check your boots, clips and seals

[Fin]

Nice pic.
I totally knackerd the alarm on our Nissan patrol in that dunk tank, the arch liners ended up in the engine bay

[HarryMann]

Hehe! Hydrauliced wheel arch inserts

[jester1467]

If any of you are running Memory Map I have some overlays of the the routes we did a couple of years back.
Salisbury Plain has lots of tracks but only a few have vehicular rights of way - marked as BOATs and ORPAs (tracks with green circular blops on the OS 25K series and orange on the 50K.
Your navigation has to be spot on to ensure that you stay legal.
Check with the county Highways Dept for any current TROs and with the MoD Rangemaster for military activity.
And don't run over any Great Bustards.
Doug

Doug I've got memory map would much appreciate the overlays to take a look, could you email them over?

PM me

Ady

[Rogue Trooper]

Keep tabs on the fire times on the ranges... It all ends on the 11th So you may find 3 Commando Brigade still hanging around!

http://www.tilsheadvillage.com/docs/11-feb-SPTA.pdf

TRAINING ON SPTA
3 Commando Brigade will continue their operational pre- deployment training on Salisbury Plain
until 11 February. The exercise, known as Ex PASHTUN DAGGER, will take place across the
entire length of the Plain and will involve some 2500 troops, 300 tracked and wheeled armoured
vehicles, and both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Large convoys, some in excess of 80 vehicles, will
operate on the training area and there may be some disruption to civilian traffic at tank crossings.
For the period of the exercise there will be no access to the Larkhill Artillery Ranges and
permissive stone tracks in the Tilshead/Chitterne/Shrewton triangle (Copehill Down area) will be
closed in the interest of public safety. Military convoys leaving the Plain at the end of the exercise
may cause some disruption from late afternoon on Friday 11 February until 13 February. During
the week 14 -18 February activity will peak with a Royal School of Artillery young officers exercise
which includes AS90 live firing, a Land Warfare Centre two day armoured exercise, and a
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines major exercise. Finally the Royal Dragoon Guards from
Catterick will deploy onto the Plain with their Challenger 2 tanks to conduct low level training for the
last two weeks of the month.

FIRING NOISE
The main source of noise complaints is the live firing of 155mm AS90 (Artillery System of the 90s)
self propelled guns. The firing is closely managed to ensure that legal noise limits are not
exceeded and disturbance is minimised. Although some may find the noise intrusive, it is well
below legal limits.
Late Firing Days on Larkhill & Westdown Ranges: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 24th.
Complaints about Firing Noise should be made to (01980) 620819.
MILITARY FLYING
With the increase in training for operations there has been a significant increase in military flying.
Helicopters, Hercules (C130) and fast jets may be active at any time. Dropping Zones (DZ) have
been booked as follows:
Fox Covert & Everleigh Dropping Zones will be active through February 2011.
Complaints about low flying should be made to 0207 218 6020 or e-mail lowflying@mod.uk.
ACCESS
Access to Salisbury Plain is regulated by Salisbury Plain Military Lands Byelaws and Bulford,
Larkhill and Imber Range Byelaws. This Newsletter is published up to 6 weeks before the event
and urgent training bids may come in subsequently. Always comply with local signs and flags.
Access timings can be found on the SPTA Walks Line: (01980) 67 4763.

Bulford Ranges. A number of public rights of way (PROW) run through Bulford Ranges and are
closed when firing is taking place and red flags are flying. No firing is planned for 5th, 6th, 12th,
13th, 26th, 27th.
Larkhill Ranges. A significant number of public rights PROW run through Larkhill Ranges and are
closed when firing is taking place and flags are flying. The flags may vary in colour (red, red and
yellow or red and white) but all mean “keep outside” the line of signs at that boundary. No firing is
planned for 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th.
Note. In the event of range fires access may be denied to some areas due to the risk of
unexploded ordnance “cooking off”.
Imber. A combination of difficult terrain and unexploded military debris make it hazardous to leave
the marked routes. The public are excluded from Imber Ranges at all times, even if flags are not
flying. The only exception being when the roads through Imber are opened to allow the public to
reduce journey times across Imber Ranges.
Note. Even when the roads are open the village remains out of bounds to the public.
PUBLIC USE OF THE MILITARY LANDS
Offences Causing Most Trouble to Users of SPTA. Currently the greatest problems are:
a. Theft of and from vehicles and theft of metal. Secure your possessions!
b. Criminal damage.
c. “Off Roading” by 4WD and motor cycles.
d. Poaching (including hare coursing).
e. Dog fouling.
What You Can Do to Reduce Crime. You can help by reporting suspicious activity to
PLAINWATCH (01980 674700) (a Ministry of Defence Police intelligence gathering project). The
more information given the better e.g. time place, vehicle registration, description of individuals and
vehicles. If a crime is taking place call 999 and do not challenge the offenders.
Dog Fouling. We have no funds to provide or empty “dog bins” and in large quantities faeces
become hazardous waste but in small amounts can be placed in any rubbish bin if “bagged”. All
we ask is that:
a. Dog walkers stay away from military training.
b. Owners pick up faeces, bag them, take them home and put them in their own bin.
N D LINGE MBE
Lt Col (Retd)
for Commander

[axeman]

gonna have to miss this one as the engine swap is going to happen next week end and i would like to put a few miles on it before she goes off road,

neil