Dirt bikers and motorcyclists are facing the end of the road as a vehicle ban is coming to a byway in rural East Hampshire.

Hampshire County Council has begun moves to close Buttons Lane to vehicular traffic because of the “noise and nuisance” caused by off-roaders in one of the district’s quietest areas.

The Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) in the Colemore and Priors Dean parish is barely more than a footpath in places.

But like so many other BOATs in East Hampshire, the route west of Empshott Green has become a popular haunt for dirt-bikers and off-road drivers, with the track becoming churned up and rutted in parts.

That shouldn’t be the case for much longer as HCC has made a Traffic Regulation Order to close the Colemore and Priors Dean BOAT 22 between Goleigh Farm Lane and Noar Hill Common Road to all motorised vehicles, with an exception for farm and access traffic. And with policy changing, more could follow around The Hangers.

“I’ve been campaigning to stop vehicles on that route for eight years so I’m thrilled it’s finally gone through,” said Cllr Russell Oppenheimer, who thanked local parish councillors for “keeping up the pressure”.

“It’s very disruptive for people living around there. It’s a national park, it’s such a peaceful area, and no-one wants to hear dirt bikes. It should not be drivable.

“We’ve had problems with dirt bikes going there and they’ve caused a lot of damage. I’m pleased we’ve finally got to the point where HCC are going to close it.”

East Hampshire has one of the highest concentrations of BOATs in England with Green Lane, west of ‘old’ Clanfield, being another hotspot for dirt-bikers and 4x4 users.

However, things may be changing with more winter closures, gates and noticeboards in place.