Bridlepaths on private land - hunt access

[SEL]

The local hunt took their quads up my neighbour's bridlepath this evening. The bit on his land is definitely not a byway and given how wet the ground is they've totally trashed it.

He's anti hunting and underwhelmed (putting it mildly) and has said if the National Trust can ban them why can't he?

Can he?

 

[ycbm]

The local hunt took their quads up my neighbour's bridlepath this evening. The bit on his land is definitely not a byway and given how wet the ground is they've totally trashed it.

He's anti hunting and underwhelmed (putting it mildly) and has said if the National Trust can ban them why can't he?

Can he?

No motor vehicles on bridleways, apparently. I think he can probably insist they reinstate, legally. Getting them to do it might be another matter.

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/policy/... is a legal,is illegal in most circumstances,

 

[Goldenstar]

He can certainly ban the quads .

 

[SEL]

He can certainly ban the quads .

I think he'd like to ban them all, but it's the quads that have trashed the track

@ycbm thanks I'll tell him that bit. Might have a chat with the local council too.

 

[Highmileagecob]

If it is definitely private land with no defined right of way, then the hunt would have to secure written permission to come onto his land. He is quite within his rights to say no, and members of the public cannot drive quads or track bikes across private land either.

 

[cauda equina]

If it's a public bridleway horses can go there without specific permission, quad bikes can't

 

[SEL]

It is a public bridleway so he can't stop the horses from what I've read and you've all confirmed.

The quads have turned it into a mud soup - it's practically impassable. I saw one of the parish councillors this morning who stopped by to ask me what happened - they've already had multiple complaints (not just about the bridleway). So it will be escalated to district council but I doubt anything useful will come of it tbh

 

[ihatework]

He can most definitely stop quads/vehicles.

He won’t be able to stop horses/pedestrians but they should be on the bridleway and not venture onto the rest of his land.

 

[ihatework]

The quads have turned it into a mud soup - it's practically impassable. I saw one of the parish councillors this morning who stopped by to ask me what happened - they've already had multiple complaints (not just about the bridleway). So it will be escalated to district council but I doubt anything useful will come of it tbh

And the over entitled prats wonder why they get less and less support. It’s behaviour like this that sways a relative neutral more into the anti camp.

 

[Tiddlypom]

As long as your neighbour is certain that it was hunt quad bikes that did the damage to the bridleway which crosses his land, then the hunt is liable to make good the damage.

The quad bikes should only have been on the bridleway if they had the express permission of the landowner, and clearly they didn't. Don't let the hunt bully him, patronise him or ignore him, they know full well where they should and shouldn't go.

He can't stop people on foot or on horseback (or cycles) from using the bridleway, but they must stick exactly to the permitted route and not venture off into the surrounding land.

 

[SEL]

As long as your neighbour is certain that it was hunt quad bikes that did the damage to the bridleway which crosses his land, then the hunt is liable to make good the damage.

The quad bikes should only have been on the bridleway if they had the express permission of the landowner, and clearly they didn't. Don't let the hunt bully him, patronise him or ignore him, they know full well where they should and shouldn't go.

I was there watching the quads tear up the bridleway!!

I'd only come off it myself 45 minutes earlier having thought the hunt would be done for the day. It was a surprise at dusk to suddenly hear the sound of hooves on tarmac and go from wondering who was riding this late on to oh **** are all the horses doors secure, where's the cat, shut the front gates etc etc......

Definitely didn't have permission but the parish council think the county council have repair responsibility for the bridleway so are going to escalate. Tbh they'll carry more weight than an individual (the bridlepath carries on further than just his land). It was getting dark when the hunt came though, they flushed a fox which ran across the road so hounds weren't back under control until it was dark and drivers apparently met horses on the road in the dark. I suspect some of those drivers are local and complained.

And the over entitled prats wonder why they get less and less support. It’s behaviour like this that sways a relative neutral more into the anti camp.

I had my fairly pro hunting OH with me. He wasn't particularly bothered by the fox breaking cover so much as the complete and utter disregard for property and 20 odd horses being on a public road in the dark.

Quote from OH - the chances of a conservative government getting through the next election must be pretty low and if Labour come in and they keep acting like this it'll be banned totally. I suspect he's right on both counts.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I would have thought that the hunt would have a good reason to help preserve the bridleway in a good state.

If the landowner is sure that it is hunt members who wrecked the bridleway with quads, then he could try sending a stern letter to the hunt master stating that the hunt must repair it.

 

[cauda equina]

Why do hunts still use quad bikes?
If not for the terrier men (because if you're trail hunting you wouldn't need terriers - would you?) then why?

 

[SEL]

I would have thought that the hunt would have a good reason to help preserve the bridleway in a good state.

If the landowner is sure that it is hunt members who wrecked the bridleway with quads, then he could try sending a stern letter to the hunt master stating that the hunt must repair it.

He's sure because I was watching them.

Around here stern letters just get you grief.

And they couldn't care less what state they leave the ground in. They won't be back this way again this season I suspect.

 

[DabDab]

Why do hunts still use quad bikes?
If not for the terrier men (because if you're trail hunting you wouldn't need terriers - would you?) then why?

Terriers still flush to gun (legal as long as only two dogs and fox is killed by gun). Often they are doing that in the background while the main hunt are running around after a trail (or that's the official line anyway). The terrier man dispatch service is sometimes the main reason that the hunt are still allowed access to the land of some farmers.

And I think they're using the quads for other things during a hunting day too.

 

[Keith_Beef]

He's sure because I was watching them.

Around here stern letters just get you grief.

And they couldn't care less what state they leave the ground in. They won't be back this way again this season I suspect.

What can he do, then, legally and practically, to make a barrier that prevents quads but that allows access for horses?

Where I ride here in the forest there are wide paths (between two and four metres) to allow allow access for agricultural machinery, fire and ambulance services. There are barriers that are two posts, each with a slot, and a horizontal post through them, with a padlock to keep it closed. Next to this is another post, set about a meter away, so that a pedestrian, cyclist or horse can get through.

 

[TGM]

Why do hunts still use quad bikes?
If not for the terrier men (because if you're trail hunting you wouldn't need terriers - would you?) then why?

There are lots of reasons for using quad bikes, other than for transporting terriers and terrier men. Our family hunt with a bloodhound pack (so obviously hunting totally legally - chasing the natural scent of human runners) and the hunt often use quad bikes, especially on downland where it is difficult to get the hound van. Volunteers on the quad bike might collect a tired hound, open/shut gates, pick up fallen riders etc.

I should point out, in their case, they only hunt where they have landowners' permission, obviously following a pre-determined route makes that possible.

 

[SEL]

What can he do, then, legally and practically, to make a barrier that prevents quads but that allows access for horses?

Where I ride here in the forest there are wide paths (between two and four metres) to allow allow access for agricultural machinery, fire and ambulance services. There are barriers that are two posts, each with a slot, and a horizontal post through them, with a padlock to keep it closed. Next to this is another post, set about a meter away, so that a pedestrian, cyclist or horse can get through.

Quads can get through the horse gates that are already there. He'd need planning permission for anything else. Plus he shouldn't need to put anything up to stop their access - they know full well they aren't supposed to be there. Hopefully a councillor with a few b***s will have a word with the hunt.

@TGM no problem with quads following the hunt providing they stick to tracks / roads where vehicles are allowed. There were no terriers as far as I could see. They'd have been more use on the road anyway given hounds in full flight don't check the traffic before crossing!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I would have thought that the hunt would have a good reason to help preserve the bridleway in a good state.

If the landowner is sure that it is hunt members who wrecked the bridleway with quads, then he could try sending a stern letter to the hunt master stating that the hunt must repair it.

SEL has previously shared which pack this is. Unfortunately for her, it is one of the most blatant 'couldn't give an eff' of the illegal hunts, with connections in high places. They really do not care who they upset.

 

[Fred66]

Why do hunts still use quad bikes?
If not for the terrier men (because if you're trail hunting you wouldn't need terriers - would you?) then why?

Some hunts use the terriermen / quads to lay trails , not saying this the case here.

It might also depend on who owns the sporting rights as to whether they are or aren’t allowed.

 

[Dexter]

SEL has previously shared which pack this is. Unfortunately for her, it is one of the most blatant 'couldn't give an eff' of the illegal hunts, with connections in high places. They really do not care who they upset.

going on the location I'm guessing its the kimblewick?

 

[Clodagh]

I’m very late to this but it might be worth trying to get the byway to have some sort of access gate over it. We had one near us in Essex that had a low bar in the middle (maybe 8” high) and then higher wings, so no vehicles could access it.
It won’t stop them coming onto it from someone else’s land but might help.