Blocked footpaths?

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skewbaldmillie

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I was very annoyed to find that the public footpath opposite my house has had the gate padlocked, an extra bar added to the stile to make it higher and the whole stile and gate chicken wired. I own 5 large dogs and it is difficult to find time to walk then anywhere else. Now I cannot walk a dog on the footpath. Can I report this? And if so who to?

Thanks in advance
 
Local councils rights of way officer..... I have found that e mailing via website gets quicker response... also attach pictures & detailed description of exactly where it is.
 
Is it a "real" footpath ie on OS/definitive rights of way map, or just a path used by walkers. Therein will lie what you can do about it
 
If it is a public footpath and on the definitive map of that status then the stile is illegal. They must now be gated to allow disabled people access to the countryside. (Kissing gate if livestock in the fields).
Contact the access officer of your local county council and ask them to remove the obstruction and have the stile replaced by a gate or kissing gate.
If that fails then get in contact with the Ramblers Associations
 
PeterNatt said:
They must now be gated to allow disabled people access to the countryside. (Kissing gate if livestock in the fields).
Contact the access officer of your local county council and ask them to remove the obstruction and have the stile replaced by a gate or kissing gate.
If that fails then get in contact with the Ramblers Associations
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New ones must be gated but there is no requirement to replace existing styles.

As for access OP - there has to be access to those in foot, however there is no requirement to provide access that is suitable for dogs. The dogs have no right of way, only the owner. (The owner can always carry the dog over a style,, though my dogs jump them). Regards the height - two steps is permissible and the height Should not exceed 90cm. A land owner is allowed to lock a gate upon consultation with the the local officer, if there have been particular problems with gates being left open. If there is a style adjacent to the gate, there would be no reason for them to refuse the landowner permission to lock the gate. Take your tape measure and check the height if you feel it is too high though.

I've researched this thoroughly as the footpath running through my property goes through the main driveway gate - the gates to the fields containing livestock get left open at least twice a month and on two occasions both gates have been left open resulting on livestock getting onto the main road. Due to the 8ft high drystone wall on either side of the gate I have had permission to secure my property and put a style in next to the gate as there isn't enough room for a 5 foot gate.
 
Suggest you purchase a copy of 'Rights of Way A guide to Law and Practice Fourth Edition by John Riddall and John Trevelyan.

'.... The entitlement to take a dog on a public right of way is confined to the line of the path, and exists while the dog is accompanying its owner or keeper. Thus if a dog is allowed to run around off the paths, trespass is committed against the holder of the land'.
 
EQUIDAE said:
New ones must be gated but there is no requirement to replace existing styles.

As for access OP - there has to be access to those in foot, however there is no requirement to provide access that is suitable for dogs. The dogs have no right of way, only the owner. (The owner can always carry the dog over a style,, though my dogs jump them). Regards the height - two steps is permissible and the height Should not exceed 90cm. A land owner is allowed to lock a gate upon consultation with the the local officer, if there have been particular problems with gates being left open. If there is a style adjacent to the gate, there would be no reason for them to refuse the landowner permission to lock the gate. Take your tape measure and check the height if you feel it is too high though.

I've researched this thoroughly as the footpath running through my property goes through the main driveway gate - the gates to the fields containing livestock get left open at least twice a month and on two occasions both gates have been left open resulting on livestock getting onto the main road. Due to the 8ft high drystone wall on either side of the gate I have had permission to secure my property and put a style in next to the gate as there isn't enough room for a 5 foot gate.
Click to expand...

Yes we have this situation on a bridle path I havnt seen a horse on it in 20yrs because of where it goes however on or two regular bikers jam the gates open so they dont have to stop or indeed slow down so sometimes they find them locked . If not a whole field of cattle are only 100 metres from a busy road its just the stupid few. Having said that the ramblers recently had an organised walk through here and guess what the gates were left open.
You are totally right what you say about dogs as well you are not obliged to make access for them as they no right over a right of way. It sounds like it may be a landowner fed up with dog owners using their land to let dogs do what they do. I have dog walkers who use some parkland as a public park were I have cows and calves although I have signs telling them to only use the footpath ,however I cannot warn them of the dangers of what their doing in case one of them gets attacked under the HSE rules I will have already accept liability its a crazy world.
 
PeterNatt said:
Suggest you purchase a copy of 'Rights of Way A guide to Law and Practice Fourth Edition by John Riddall and John Trevelyan.

'.... The entitlement to take a dog on a public right of way is confined to the line of the path, and exists while the dog is accompanying its owner or keeper. Thus if a dog is allowed to run around off the paths, trespass is committed against the holder of the land'.
Click to expand...

Yes there is a right for the dog to accompany however I dont think you will find there is any requirement to provide access for the dog. Or should I say easy access!
 
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