bridleway bridge issues

WiltshireWays

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In my local area we have a bridleway which passes over a canal by means of a metal swing bridge. The bridge has a slippy surface and only a couple of rails, no kick boards. There have been incidents of horses slipping and thier legs going over the edges of the bridge. As far as I can gather the responsibility for the bridge is with British Waterways rather than the local council, but any suggestions how we can bring pressure to bear to get them perhaps boards and improve the surface? Any legal wording that might be important to use?
They have been approached, but they don't seem to see anything wrong with it
I believe the local BHS bridleway officer has been approached and the Councils RoW person, but everyone is a bit too busy to tackle specific things like this it seems.
Thanks
 
I have had the same trouble in my area, I contacted my local countryside services department (county council) and they dealt with the issue immediately. If they do not respond just keep ringing up and get everyone horsey you know to ring up as well if there are enough people complaining they have to do something!
 
I would keep on at your council, I work for the area council and they have a duty to "make" British Waterways replace/make safe the bridge.

I had an argument with ROW in the same council I work for and the day after read a report in H&H about someone that sued their council for £12k due to a defective bridleway!!!! I rang ROW and told them this story and the day after works were being done on the bridlepath!!

Hope you can sort it, also the more people you can get to complain as well will make them move faster.
 
Thank you... interesting that you both say to approach the Council, they seemed to be saying it wasn't their problem.. but I will persist.. who is responsible for what, and what standard a bridleway should be ( particulalry where this is an old route) seems to be a maze of confusing information.

British Waterwaterways don't think there is anything wrong with it, and I suppose until there is a serious injury, like the court case you mention they may not...
 
There are now British Standards/European Standards in place for Bridges over Motorways etc however I am not aware of any for canal bridges. However if the bridge is dangerous or puts of people using it on horse back then it can be treated as an obstruction. An obstruction means that the local Access Department of your County Council are obliged to do something about it. If they fail to do so in a reasonable period of time a recent court case demonstrated that they can be heavily fined.

I would suggest that in the first instance you write to the Access Officer of the local County Council in which the bridleway is located and advise them of the problem and ask them to respond to you in writing and tell you what they intend doing about it. When you send the letter send it by Royal Mail Signed for or Royal Mail Special Delivery so that there is no doubt that the letter has been received by them. Give them 14 days to reply and if they do not reply then write to them again.

If you need any assistance then don't hesitate to contact me.
 
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