Bridleways E-Petition

[jules9203]

The Government is under pressure from riding groups to equal the number of bridleways in the country
(currently approx 20,000 miles) up to the same level as footpaths (approx 91,000) miles to help reduce
horses on the road/accidents while promoting outdoor activity and safe use of the countryside for all
sexes and ages.
This will only happen if people sign the online petition. Please go to:-

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/15341

to sign and help get riders equal rights to walkers/ramblers.

 

[mon]

How are many of bridleways going to be converted? Wider tracks, more poaching horse access instead of stiles, stronger bridges plus the footpath near us goes over three lines of intercity track.

 

[martlin]

Yes, exactly mon, how? Presumably it involves developments on private land? Where is the money going to come from and bearing in mind strict liability of land owners, how will they be convinced to allow bridleways on their land?

 

[rockysmum]

Can see the down sides, but I have signed.

If it only gets us a few more it will be worth it. There are a lot of footpaths around us that wouldn't actually need any work, they are tracks anyway but horses aren't allowed on them.

 

[Cop-Pop]

I thought it was the councils in charge of rights of way?

Round here there are quite a lot of bridleways maintained by volunteers from the hunt, riding clubs and cycling groups who use them too. No one has money to pay for these things to be done!

 

[OWLIE185]

In the last budget the government announced a new fund which was to be used specifically for new rights of ways for horses.

If you have a specific new route you would like to create then contact your local BHS bridleway officer who will explain the process to you.

 

[martlin]

OK, so there is money from the government... but, how DO you actually create new bridleways? It's not as simple as just improving the track. The amount of comments on this forum alone, highlighting what a nuisance it is to have a public right of way running through your land, makes me doubt that the landowners will be that thrilled at the prospect and, as far as I know, you can't MAKE them accept it...

 

[OWLIE185]

I have created a number of new bridleway routes in my part of North Hertfordshire with the blessing of landowners who have been only to pleased to dedicate new routes. Some have linked existing sections of isolated bridleways together and others have been placed to take riders off busy/dangerous road sections.

 

[mon]

I would like excisting bridleways made safer especially where they cross busy roads and B.O.A.T.s either pet back to bridleways or made safer for horses especially deep wheel tracks, had to fight like he'll to get network rail to higher the sides of a bridge which goes over three lines of very busy and fast tracks, only BHS and local paper made it happen.

 

[mon]

Also with our footpaths going through grass fields with animals in one with my horses in not going to fence them away and why should I? Not as if the footpaths go around the edge of the field!

 

[OWLIE185]

If you have a public right of way going accross the middle of a field you can always apply to put in a modification/diversion order to have it put round the side of the field instead if this is easier for you to manage the livestock in your field.

 

[mon]

But would I have to fence my horses or other stock away from a bridleway? If so at whose expense, they ignore walkers but thnk would not ignore other horses.