Access advice

[Gucc]

Hi,
As per my previous post I've recently rented some land that has not been grazed for some years and part of it has been used by dog walkers. I need to fence this area off to provide an additional paddock, to weed kill, and possibly reseed etc. I have had a few people complain to me that they want to continue walking their dogs there, but it is not a public right of way and I do not want loose dogs running through my horses field, especially as I have one who is very good with dogs and a curious 2 yr old and I would be worried that not all dogs are horse friendly. Added to this people are currently not cleaning up after their dogs. What would you do? I don't really want to upset the local community but my horses welfare comes first, and I am paying to rent this land.

Thank again

 

[Honey08]

Could you have a word with the land owner re the dog walks - ask him if it is an established path.. just to check and also to see if he suggests anything..

If not, then its really hard luck for the dogs. I'd get a good fence and gate up, with perhaps some warning signs to tell people to not allow their dogs near the horses? If people are really upset, suggest that they pay to rent the field for their dogs. Its lovely if you can let your dog run around in a unused field, but its not a right!

 

[Gucc]

I will ring the agents tomorrow. What is the definition of an established path? The walkers already scoot round a locked gate with barbed wire on top so I suggest that this is not in agreement with the landowner. There is no mention of a path on my tenancy agreement or plan either.

 

[henryhorn]

We had a similar problem in a field we owned Up North, despite there being no right of way locals just broke barriers down and when we applied for PP for the field the cheeky devils wrote to the planners saying they had walked their dogs through there for 20 years!
Unfortunately for them we also had copies of the letters we had written over the last ten years warning the same people it was not a permitted route and asking them to desist.. We won they lost..
During that time they had pulled down a granite stone wall of ten feet high we had rebuilt time and time again, removed barbed wire and forced a way in next to the gate. Even so it was not a footpath and will soon be built on.
I would first check with your landlord what the real situation is, then after that take action unless he prefers you not to upset his neighbours.
Probably the best way is to politely confront walkers after you have blocked off all access and use a camera if they attempt to enter the field.
If you don't want to do this just make it thoroughly difficult for them to walk such as using the track as your muck area or allowing nettles to grow!