UKC

Hi all,

Sorry for the second thread. I decided to remove the first attempt to redact some information that probably is worth keeping out of reach of the boy racers.

However, in summary what I can say is that we're making progress on the antisocial driving front.

- a TTRO has been granted which gives police far more power

- the police will close the gorge should car meets or antisocial behaviour begin to establish

More information can be found here:

https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2025/08/new-police-powers-to-tac...

I've been asked to ask you all the following:

"MC: As per the message yesterday, it's in place for 18 months and the TTRO will allow the police to temporarily close the Gorge road when a car meet is forming. It’s not a blanket closure, it’ll be led by live info from the community, and police have agreed to staff the closures when they do happen, to enforce them properly.
MC: So for that reason it would be great if you could share the protocol with the Climbing community, basically that if they notice meets or gatherings developing that they should call 101. If they witness illegal behaviour they can escalate to 999. The more evidence the more pressure is put on police and will lead towards next steps such as wider injunctions etc"

I'll keep you updated.

Great stuff, thanks Fred!

BBC News - Road closure targets 'dangerous' car meets at Cheddar Gorge 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gz28v4klno

The cat's out of the bag, it seems.

T.

Further update: 

Last night a small group of locals (Cheddar Roadwatch) and myself met with various stakeholders and the MP for Cheddar Tessa Munt. Significant progress was made. 

In my experience previous local efforts very quickly got bogged down in the pettiness of problems rather that focussing on wide scale solutions and then working backwards. I'm sure many of us have experienced the same at a parish level.

This newly formed group feels very different and is driven by several young and passionate professionals. A well researched and realistic outline was provided to put an end to the problem of antisocial driving in the Gorge once and for all using the powers that the law has to offer and case studies from elsewhere in the country. Problems of course exist, but each is surmountable. Tessa Munt was very much in favour and stakeholders on all sides were widely in agreement. 

We were informed there is also significant buy in at a senior level within the police. But they will need information from the wider community in order to be effective.

Poetically during the meeting the police chose to enact their first Gorge road closure in line with the above mentioned TTRO. The gorge was silent. It was glorious and the perfect time to climb. Unheard of on a late Friday evening in summer at Cheddar.

As climbers we are an important element to the strategy. We are the eyes and ears in the gorge. Our role is to call in via 101 on any and all antisocial driving in the gorge as it happens. Photos and videos must be taken and sent in. We must insist on an incident number before we end the call. Yes, it's tedious and may take a few minutes. But combined with other users and stakeholders maintaining pressure and causing the crime stats in cheddar to reflect the true reality is crucial to the next step.

For the first time in two decades I feel there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

"Acting Sgt Daryl Screech"

How appropriate...

Fantastic work. Many thanks to you and everyone else!

How did it work for those wanting to go about their normal activities? Did the police let them through? We need to keep locals and general public on side 

I admit, they've done a brilliant job!

Legally speaking the gorge will be entirely closed to motor traffic. However it seems it's at the discretion of the police. Last night I managed to drive up the gorge while it was closed but I was driving a battered old 2005 polo. I think if you have a shiny new M3 you may struggle.

Fantastic news! Well done to all involved. 
 

my only comment is that it applies on Fridays Saturdays and Sundays only. Hopefully this can be extended in due course?

Thanks and thanks to all involved. It makes cheddar sound idyllic again. I might call my holiday short and come home to climb!! 

There has already been a huge improvement, even outside Fridays-Sundays! Looks like the recent closure has put most of the anti-social drivers off, at least for now.

I was climbing on Heart Leaf Bluff last Wednesday evening: there were a few ludicrously loud revving/popping motorbikes but other than that it was pretty quiet. 

Yesterday evening I was out walking with Mrs eric_in_cheddar about half a mile from the reservoir and it dawned on me that there was some background normal traffic noise, but often gaps in traffic, so it was easy to hear the geese honking some distance away. What a relief!

I will be back on Heart Leaf Bluff this evening, and I am really hoping the improvement continues!  

Ugh. Disappointing yesterday evening while up on Heart Leaf Bluff. Four extremely loud motorbikes racing up and down almost non stop 6.00 - 8.00 pm. By 8.30 pm about 30 cars had gathered at the bottom end of the Gorge, with one doing doughnuts and other very noisy cars going ridiculous speeds.  

Sadly at the moment the TTRO extends only to Friday, Sat and Sun after 5pm . But we're working on it!

On Friday evening the police closed the Gorge to vehicular traffic at about 7pm. Gloriously quiet since then, for the rest of the evening and all of Saturday! Marvellous!

For those interested in how things are unfolding in the Gorge:

Sunday: Didn't go into the Gorge but background Anti Social Driving noise reduced by about 80%.

Monday: During the day background ASD noise reduced by about 80% again. Climbed in the Gorge 6-9 pm. There were about 4 cars and 4 motorbikes speeding/revving/popping/driving on the wrong side of the road intermittently but about 60% of the time it was quiet. So, aggravating some of the time (even high up near the top of the Gorge on Heart Leaf Bluff we had to wait for breaks in the ASD noise to discuss beta etc)  but still a huge improvement. 

Lived near Cheddar gorrge all my life and there's always been an issue with anti social drivers, I'm all for the younger people having fun with their cars but in a safe way so very pleased there is going to be some opportunity for them to do it in a controlled environment.

Unsure wether I am interpreting this thread right LOL, during weekend evening will the car meets be overlooked by the police or is this to completely stop them for some peace and quiet? Apologies for the confusion.

Yes. Static mutual admiration of mods without going Mad Max is fine.

The police have temporary power to close the Gorge to vehicular traffic 4pm to 6 am Fridays to Sundays. Depending on what happens, that power may be extended/reduced/rescinded. It has already had a major positive impact (at least in the short term), even outside those days/times

Ahhh okay thanks mate now I understand, a great move to help the local peace.

Open to bicycles during those times?

I don't know for certain either way but I would be very surprised if bicycles are not allowed, as they are absolutely not part of the problem being addressed.