blocked bridleways.....hmmmphh

Shysmum

Shysmum

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I am sooooo lucky that we have bought a new (old rice from ebay) trailer, and in this weather we have been out every day checking out bridlepaths.

But every single day, the bridleway has been blocked ; twice by HUGE piles of cow shite across the tracks, once with a locked gate, and today we got to a bridge that some idiot had constructed of plywood. It looked like a horse had tried to cross it, and had gone right through, and was actually detaching at the banks :eek: Could not believe it, and there were miles of this track on the other side, according to the OS map.

We're keeping a note of which paths are blocked where, but I doubt anyone will be interested. Another path close to us "has been reported many times" to the BHS and the council, by someone I know, as the gates are just dangerously narrow for a horse, and nothing has been done. I didn't even try that path after my first attempt.

We are in Co Durham. Anyone else have problems, and have you managed to get any of them resolved - and how ? It's such a shame.

sm xx
 
If you want to do something about it then you have to be prepared to do it yourself.

I would suggest that you write to the access department at your local county council explaining the obstruction and enclosing a map which shows exactly where it is. Ask them to acknowledge receipt of your letter in writing and advise you what action they propose taking and the period of time it will take to resolve the problem. Send the letter to them by Royal Mail Signed For so that there is no doubt that they have received it. If you do not hear from them within 2 weeks then write again enclosing a copy of your original letter again by Royal Mail Signed For. If you still receive no satisfaction then your next port of call is to write to the chief executive of your County Council enclosing copies of the letters that you have written to them who will no doubt then motivate the access department in to action. If all this fails then contact your local BHS access/bridleway officer who will be only to pleased to assist you.
 
near me a bridleway goes over busy railway line they are repairing if for 2 months asked about parapet height and 1.3m when all recomendations are 1.8m they say as only repairing dont intend to go higher and haven't money for it ,the bridlewa is now fully obstructed so phoning Rights of way dept monday as no signs saying it is shut. If network rail an misuse bridleways so farmers shouldn't be treated any different.
 
Ok, I'm prepared to do what you suggest Peter - thanks for the advice :) We have a few more paths to go yet, and then I'll put the whole lot into a letter. It makes me very sad that other people obviously use the paths (lots of hoof prints), but no-one seems to take a stand. In other words it's always me *sigh* ;)
 
We're trying to get some old through-ways opened down here; the things I've learnt so far is that (1) you have to be patient!! - wheels turn extremely & frustratingly slowly if involving councils and officialdom and (2) get the right people on your side if possible, i.e. anyone who you think would take your "cause" on board, ranging from local "bods" to any local celebrities etc in the area; (3) don't take no for an answer and be prepared to be persistent! (4) get a group of like-minded people who want access ways opened up and form a pressure group. Include in this ramblers, cyclists, dog walkers, local sports/walking clubs etc etc. The more the merrier!

And Good Luck!
 
I guess I've been lucky, I have reported 2 incidents of blocked bridleways to Kent County Council via an email address on their website and within 2 weeks they had been cleared.
 
Definately report it to the council.

I rode with a friend this week and she told me that earlier in the week she rode a bridlepath where there were some men, clearing shrubs and cutting off low hanging branches. Apparently they were the farmers who own the land the path is on and the council had instructed them to clear the path.

So it does work in some places.

Perhaps you could name and shame them. Take photos of the obstructions, dangerous bridge etc and ask your local paper to write a story about it, naming the farmer whose land the path is on.
 
I have a sneaky feeling that it is the "conservation volunteers" clearing the streams by the path, who thought up the plywood bridge effort. They've done a fantastic job of the streams, but they obviously got a bit confused about how much a horse and rider would weigh :D

Even our terrier was very reluctant to go near this thing, tho of course the lab went lolloping over and fell down the hole. How do they always do that ?

And as for the cow shite heaps, the dogs still stink, even tho they were called back as soon as we saw said piles :eek: Shy, being much classier, would not have gone near them.
 
With the kinds of budget cuts Councils are having to make, Access Officers are becoming an endangered species.

Have a search on line and see if you have a local Bridleway Association. I belong to the Mendip Bridleway & Byway Assoc. and they work in association with several of our local District and County Councils, often paying for or undertaking work that has been agreed to by the Council, but which they have not the funds to undertake themselves.

I know it's the Councils responsibility, but if it's a matter of repairing the roads or repairing bridleways..there are more voters using the roads.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
We're trying to get some old through-ways opened down here; the things I've learnt so far is that (1) you have to be patient!! - wheels turn extremely & frustratingly slowly if involving councils and officialdom and (2) get the right people on your side if possible, i.e. anyone who you think would take your "cause" on board, ranging from local "bods" to any local celebrities etc in the area; (3) don't take no for an answer and be prepared to be persistent! (4) get a group of like-minded people who want access ways opened up and form a pressure group. Include in this ramblers, cyclists, dog walkers, local sports/walking clubs etc etc. The more the merrier!

And Good Luck!
Click to expand...

Any tips on getting a group of like minded people together??? There are no big yards round my way any more just private ones and i can't say i feel too comfy walking into most of them. I am actually wanting to take on walkers....hopefully things have changed over the years as i's love some old paths reopened that got closed because walkers complained, there was no need to, just selfish!
 
To get a bridlepath club started you just need to get on the phone and make as many contacts as possible and invite them to a meeting in the pub. To be a BHS affiliated club you have to have the blessing of the County BHS bridleways officer but to start you don't need to be affiliated, as you will be a group of volunteers, but think about the consequences of insurance, public liability, etc.

Get on your Council website and find out who is on the Local Access Forum representing equestrian interests (every Council has by law a LAF) and see if they can give you any contacts. Also the LAF representative can be your link between riders and the Council and ask them to put subjects on the Agenda if there is something that needs addressing. They cannot discuss indiviudal problems, but they can discuss policy. The LAF gives advice to the Council.

Contact the local Council Rights of Way Officers - maybe go and introduce yourselves and ask what you can do to help. Different Councils have different policies, some contract out all maintanance to a private firm, some are still Council employees and some depend a lot on voluteers from walkers, riding groups, 4 x 4 off road groups. See if they have an on-line Definitive Map and what is there system of reporting problems and keeping you up to date with progress on those problems.

Some bridleway groups invite council officers out for a ride (on VERY quiet horses) to show them the problems - like blockages, etc. bad gates, barbed wire, low branches. In which case you will lots of helpers to lead horses and a huge supply of chocolate buscuits and hot coffee to calm nerves.

Learn the law about bridleways and maintainance, who is responsible for what.
Look up websites of bridlepath groups from around the country and gather good ideas, and find out good practice in different Councils, so you can compare your Council with others and give them good examples. Look on the Trails Trust website for lots of interesting information.

Our bridlepath group does bridlepath clearance in conjunction with the County Council, but if you are an affiliated group you can do clearance yourselves, so long as the BHS and the County officer knows and approves.

If you work for a Council people are always moaning at you, very often horse riders. Take every opportunity to be nice to Council officers, thank them if they do something good and try to build a happy relationship. Even if one seems to be an awkward character, there may be another who will give more assistance. Hopefully this will pay off in the long term.
 
Sarah-horsey It is extremely unlikely that walkers would have had a bridleway downgraded to a public footpath. It is more likely it was placed on the definitive map as a public footpath and walkers have complained that horse riders are using it.
However if you know people that have ridden the route for a continuous period of 12 years then it is possible to make a claim to have the route upgraded to a bridleway. Also if historic research shows that the route was used as a bridleway many years ago then again an application can be made to have the route upgraded to a bridleway. If you need any assistance then contact me by E-mail at peter.natt@btinternet.com
Peter Natt BHS Bridleway officer Hertfordshire
 
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