Traffic is to be banned from a Roman road and seven other routes in the Yorkshire Dales.

The national park authority has imposed full-time regulation orders on eight green lanes, which means recreational 4×4s and motorbikes will be barred from using the tracks. The orders will be reviewed in five years’ time. Cam High Road, part of a Roman route linking Ingleton and Bainbridge, is one of the eight where lanes where motors are not banned.

Cam High Road

Jon Avison, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s head of park management, said: “This is a milestone decision for the national park authority. For many years the authority has been concerned about the effects of recreational motor vehicle use on a number of routes in the national park.

“New legislation has made it possible for us to apply traffic regulation orders to eight of these routes. The application of these orders will help to preserve the peace and tranquillity of the national park and enhance the enjoyment of other users.”

Other routes affected by the orders are: Street Gate, between Malhamdale and Littondale; Stockdale Lane, which links Settle and Malham; Gorbeck Road, between the head of Malhamdale and Ribblesdale; Harber Scar Lane, Horton Scar Lane and Foxup Road and the route from Old Ing to Cam End, which are all in the Horton in Ribblesdale area; and The High Way, at the head of Mallerstang.

Legislation which came into force in October last year gives national park authorities the right to introduce TROs. Previously, only the highway authority – usually the county council – had the power.