bridlepath obligations

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toppy72

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Afternoon everyone,

have just returned from a very stressful hack, I chose to use a bridlepath that goes through a yard (dairyfarm) and then out across the farms pasture. It was a nightmare there were strands electric fence across all of the gateways and randomly place across the path. Anyway to cut a long story short I got home cross ( and muddy which i know cant be helped) having been on and off my horse several times to do wire. Is this level of obstruction really permitted on a public path? What if anything can one do to ease the problem? thanks looking forward to your replies
 
Looks like someone somewhere is trying to stop horse riders etc going on that path!!

As post above, act ASAP and contact your local County Hall, Rights of Way Officer, plus it wouldn't hurt to contact your local parish council as well.

To chuck the spanner in the works, you could also contact the local Ramblers Group and get them steamed up about it; often local authorities will take more notice of them than they do horse riders!!! Unfortunate, but sadly true.
 
You werent obstructed,you just didnt like the farmers choice of gates. Of course you could always offer to pay for some gates......No?....well why should the farmer either!You have the privilege of riding across HIS land,even is you did find it inconvenient. :mad:
 
depending where you are in the country you could try the BHS access ways people! If you're in surrey they are particularly vitriolic and rude, which is great if they're on your side- if not they're a pain in the backside (and made me cry when I had to deal with one particular woman! :( )

But if you can get through then you may not have a leg to stand on! The farmer is trying to earn a living- you're enjoying a past-time. tread carefully and try to work with him!
 
Farmers/Landowners are obliged to comply with national legislation regarding Public Rights of Ways.
This is an illegal obstruction of a public right of way (bridleway) and you need to inform the access team of your local county council so that they can immediately investigate the matter and discuss it with the landowner/farmer concerned. If the landowner farmer fails to take appropriate action then the access team will instruct their enforcement team, to deal with the matter.
Electric fencing should be at least 3 feet away from a public right of way and should be signed with the statutory yellow warning signs every 30 feet and at both ends so that members of the public are aware that it is an electric fence. It must not go anywhere near the gates of a public right of way. Insulated handles on the gate or adjacent to the gates are not acceptable.
All gates on a bridleway must be able to be opened easily by a mounted horse rider without dismounting. This is clearly not the case and the access department should ensure that they are replaced with horse rider friendly gates.
I would suggest that initially you write to the access department of your local County Council by Royal Mail Special Delivery so as to ensure that there is no doubt that they have received your letter and ask for them to respond to you in writing within 14 days. Enclose a map to show where the bridleway is and where the electric fence is.
Peter Natt BHS Access Officer North Hertfordshire
 
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find out who your local bridleways officer is either thru the council or BHS. I did this recently after getting v annoyed at the state of our bridleways, and my horse getting beaten up by a loose horse on a bridleway that ran thru a field as I was trying to close one of the awful gates. My local officer was very helpful, put said bridleways on the maintenance list and discussed other local routes with me.

Definitely worth doing as there are so many bridleways that are lost this way... if more people speak up more can be done to keep bridleway access open.
 
Was very impressed by our local officer this year, I rang to discuss and gate that was set in a very difficult and dangerous way, within a few months he had worked with the land owner to get it altered and a very good job they have done too.
 
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