Bridleway to be reduced in width to allow for construction traffic

[PeterNatt]

The developers of the Gresley Way Housing Development (Stevenage Hertfordshire) - (Just to the North East of Stevenage close to Box Wood) have applied to East Herts District Council to have their initial access road in to the site immediately adjacent to Aston 004 Bridleway and to reduce the width of the Bridleway to 2 Metres with the access road running ajacent and parallel to it. This would be highly dangerous as HGV plant vehicles would be passing horse riders only a few inchs away from them. I had also requested that a Pegasus Traffic Light Equine Controlled Crossing was provided so that horse riders could cross Gressley Way to gain accesss to Stevenage 004 Bridleway but this was rejected by the developers. Yet again I will be fighting the corner for Horse Riders who use these bridleways.

 

[J&S]

Not my area, but well done for fighting back and thank you.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Not my area, but well done for fighting back and thank you.

What she said ?

 

[SEL]

Hope you get a result - councils around here roll over as soon as developers moan. Good luck.

 

[Bernster]

Keep up the good work! It is my area ish but horse is not local to here.

 

[Hanno Verian]

I'm not from that area, but is there anything I can do to support you in this?

 

[abbijay]

I work in construction and deal with this kind of thing, albeit much further up the country.
My advice is you are unlikely to get them to stop doing this as they are still providing a suitable route for bridleway users but think about what would be best for you and put these proposals forwards - ideally with support from other equestrians/BHS/local groups. I would expect, as a minimum, their route would be fenced off and segregated from you. Would you like a solid hoarding line (usually about 2m high) (2.4m High Steel Hoarding Panel Kit | First Fence Ltd) so the horses can't see it? Or would you prefer a heras fence type solution (Standard Temporary Fencing Panel | First Fence Ltd ) so the horses can see the vehicles. Or would you like a lower fence system? You could ask for Chapter 8 style barriers (Chapter 8 Plastic Road & Traffic Management Barriers (safefence.co.uk)) or the water filled barriers (GB2 Heavy Duty Water Filled Barrier System | First Fence Ltd ).
I would also request that all drivers are inducted to be aware of equestrians and manage their behaviour when any are present, I'd probably get a policy of "wait for the rider" drummed into them. I can't imagine there will be hundreds of horses up and down each day so this should not be seen as unreasonably difficult request. Once they are on site I would strongly recommend getting into dialogue with the project manager and getting his/her phone number so you can raise concerns directly if they're not sticking to it. Don't try to be difficult but if you are willing to help inform their policy and support them in getting the right information out to the team they will be pleased to work with you. Every PM finds neighbourhood complaints a pain in the backside so get in ahead of the game and save them the hassle.
Also these days all construction projects have some social value/community engagement targets to deliver on. Perhaps you can get them to link this to the local equestrian community and get either money towards charitable/community equine projects from them or do other bridleway improvements or maintenance while they are on site.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Quote went wrong

 

[PeterNatt]

Abbijay! Before they put in their planning application I did infact write to both the Chief Executive and Regional Manager of the Developers concerned (Redrow) and asked for them to engage with me but both of them failed to do so. Regarding the fencing etc. I asked for this under a S106 and CIV when I responded to the planning application and my comments were mainly ignored by the local authority. However, if you have any further suggestions I would appreciate them and you can contact me on E: peter.natt@btinternet.com

In any event here is an update:
The developers of the Gresley Way Housing Development (Stevenage Hertfordshire) have asked for permission to put in an access road to their site. Unfortunately the proposed access road (shown in Green) will result in a reduction of width of the existing Bridleway (Shown in Red) to 2 Metres width (Bridleways should be 3 Metres Wide). They also intent to have their access road adjacent to the Bridleway (Aston 004 Bridleway) whch willl be highly dangerous for horse riders using the Public Bridleways as large vehicles will be passing within inches of them. See the maps below. In addition I have asked the developrs for a Pegassus Controlled Crossing so that horse riders, cyclists and walkers can get accross Gresley Way to Stevenage Bridleway 107 but unfortunately they do not wish to provide it.

 

[hollyandivy123]

wouldn't it be cost effective to put the permanent access road in first too the site rather than their proposed idea, seems silly making two roads unless they are trying to get 2 access to the site by a circular route, it would be interesting to go back to the original plans...............?

 

[Reacher]

Well done for looking out for horse riders safety.
If there is a public consultation can you drum up interest in the local horse owning community and get as many a many possible to object/ request safety measures to be put in place?

 

[abbijay]

Thanks for including their logistics drawing, that is really useful!
For me I actually think what they are offering you is better than if you were on any local roads as you will be segregated from them and they will be subject to a much slower speed limit than on public highway - usually 10-15mph rather than 30mph. They are offering full height fencing so you cannot come into contact with the vehicles (and vice versa) but a fence you can see through so spooky vehicles aren't sneaking up on you and all drivers will be able to see you there. Based on my own experiences if you just shout "no, you can't" at developers they will ignore you. Think how awful it would be if they got the bridleway shut for the duration of the build or if they'd upgraded it into a shared access during the build. When it comes to construction your strongest argument will always be health and safety, I don't see why getting them to implement a "stop and wait" policy if they see horse riders on the path would be a problem to them and shouldn't impact your ability to enjoy the right of way too.
The people who you have contacted, although important, are probably too important to look at these things so they may have been overlooked at this stage or passed on down the chain. If I were you I would want to know who "KO" is that drew the plan but also try the softer end of construction and speak to this lady; (2) Lara Da Rocha-Faria | LinkedIn She's their Senior Social Value manager.

wouldn't it be cost effective to put the permanent access road in first too the site rather than their proposed idea, seems silly making two roads unless they are trying to get 2 access to the site by a circular route, it would be interesting to go back to the original plans...............?

Actually this is usually a very expensive nightmare to manage as you need to get your main utility routes in on these roads (assuming housing development and no specific knowledge of this project) Can you imagine if they were putting the utilities up the bridlepath instead with exposed excavations, plant operating, noisy activities, etc in this area? This seems a more dangerous approach than they are currently offering.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I work in construction and deal with this kind of thing, albeit much further up the country.
My advice is you are unlikely to get them to stop doing this as they are still providing a suitable route for bridleway users

Is it really a suitable alternative to run construction traffic directly alongside a narrow bridleway? How are equestrians going to be able to safely keep out of the way?

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Thanks for including their logistics drawing, that is really useful!
For me I actually think what they are offering you is better than if you were on any local roads as you will be segregated from them and they will be subject to a much slower speed limit than on public highway - usually 10-15mph rather than 30mph.

Surely it’s irrelevant regarding if it were along a local road? - it’s afaik degraded a bridleway that was wider and wasn’t alongside a road at all! Basically it’s crap but not as crap as it could be - lovely!

There’s nothing like being cramped in a narrow bridleway regardless of fence whilst a massive 20 tonne lorry rocks its way up a access road.

ETA I can’t see the diagram clearly.

 

[Dasher66]

I think you need to consider how the bridleway will be treated in the final landscape scheme. Will it still run alongside a road? Will there be a fence between it and the road. Highways will insist on a fence being set back from the kerb line by 600mm. Will that further reduce the bridle path width?

 

[nagblagger]

Isn't there a legal width of a bridleway 2 m does not sound very wide? Years ago my landowner was going to put up a fence alongside the bridleway that runs down the fence line to keep his animals away from the horse riders, keeping everyone safe, he was practically going to 'give' the land over but the local council wanted him to fence off about 6-8m width so 2 horses could pass...he didn't do it as a lot of land to lose.

 

[abbijay]

Is it really a suitable alternative to run construction traffic directly alongside a narrow bridleway? How are equestrians going to be able to safely keep out of the way?

By a heras fence line!

 

[Tiddlypom]

By a heras fence line!

Well, ain't that fine and dandy - not . Not good or safe enough in such a narrow and confined space. Are horse riders supposed to be grateful for this?

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

By a heras fence line!

Who needs enemies in construction when you’ve got horse riders that don’t defend horse riders rights. How are two horses supposed to pass each other in 2 metres space unless there are numerous passing places or unless it’s one way? To be honest walkers, dog walkers and cyclists would be hard pushed to pass a horse safely in a width of 2 metres. My large horse with my legs either side must be getting on for 1.5m. It would also be difficult to turn around in that space if you needed to.

 

[GreyMane]

Local Access Forum:
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/se...ire/hertfordshire-local-access-forum-laf.aspx

Countryside Access Officer for Herts CC:
https://www.apollo.io/people/Julian/Thornton/57df4b3ca6da980ac6bc0c52

hope this helps

 

[abbijay]

My suggestion is fight it all the way, go nuts on how dangerous this is, make them realise what a stupid idea they have come up with. And do you know what they will do? Shut the bridleway for the duration of the work. Then you’ll have a real problem on your hands

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

My suggestion is fight it all the way, go nuts on how dangerous this is, make them realise what a stupid idea they have come up with. And do you know what they will do? Shut the bridleway for the duration of the work. Then you’ll have a real problem on your hands

So they’re big bullies? Do you condone that?

 

[abbijay]

So they’re big bullies? Do you condone that?

I don’t think they are. I think you are being unreasonable.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I don’t think they are. I think you are being unreasonable.

I think you’re being unreasonable to think a 2 metre path enclosed by herras fencing alongside heavy moving vehicles is safe and is suitable alternative. What happens when a truck hits that fence for example there’s no way for the rider to avoid it. Construction sites are notoriously bad for health and safety.

 

[phizz4]

When you consider the powers that they have, and what they can shut down if they want, you could be fighting a losing battle. In my part of the world they are shutting whole sides of the A38 at weekends, and a junction for 11 months, because of HS2. We are talking about inconvenience to, quite literally, thousands of motorists.
A local bridleway has been closed for months while a new housing estate is being built, and the diversion incorporates a footpath, so you can't ride along it.
My experience of riding a bridleway alongside a busy (60 mph) road with quarry lorries on it, separated by a dry stone wall, is based on the track around Carsington reservoir, where it parallels the B5035. Our horses were not the least bit bothered because they could see the vehicles, they weren't surprised by them. However, 2 metres is narrow, but surely the regular users of the BW involved could work some system out between them. As stated, the danger is, that if it is closed completely it might not get re-instated. That has happened with a recent house build in a local village. The builders have ignored the fact that a public footpath runs (ran) through the grounds of the property and it has now been 'lost'.

 

[phizz4]

A little research using Google maps suggests that the BW has a grass verge on it's north side along much of it's length. I would have thought that some tactical negotiation with the builders could result in some refuge/passing areas being created on a temporary basis.