Broxbourne Woods, Hertfordshire Bridleway

[PeterNatt]

I am pleased to report that the decision letter (04.09.2024) has just come out for the Broxbourne Woods case. The Inspector has confirmed the order. I think we're all grateful to BHS HQ for funding an advocate for this one, to John Featherstone for making the original application (last century!) and Alison Balfour Lynn for making a fresh one when riders started to be challenged. Special thanks too to Ros Emrys-Roberts for strong assistance in the run-up to the Inquiry.

The path comprises three sections: (1) across Hertfordshire County Council land (already in use as a permissive route), (2) across Gascoyne Cecil Estate land (who opposed at inquiry) and (3) the Woodland Trust section.

This means that present and future generations of Horse Riders will be able to continue to use this Bridleway as a Public Bridleway.

This is a great result and I would like to thank all the Horse Riders who completed Evidence Forms so that we could demonstrate usage by Horse Riders.

Many thanks to all concerned especially to Phil Wadey.

 

[SEL]

You do a sterling job in Herts Peter - these decisions take so many years to resolve it is totally disheartening and I can see why riders give up.

 

[PeterNatt]

It does take many years of hard work but once we get them as Public Bridleways or Public Restricted Byways, then they are permanent.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Wish i lived there, there are absolutely no bridleways near me

 

[criso]

I used to be right next to there. It's still reachable from current yard but more of a long ride.

The permissive path I use but obviously permissive paths can be removed so that's protected. The next bit used to be open to get to the next woods but by the time I was there had been blocked off years before The last bit was still used when I was there but Gascoyne Estates were actively doing everything possible to block it putting fences up and people stopping you/telling you off. This was about 10 years ago and there was a meeting with riders and cyclists to talk about it.

Which shows how long it can take but finally successful.

 

[Orangehorse]

Well done everyone, especially, you Peter.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I used to be right next to there. It's still reachable from current yard but more of a long ride.

The permissive path I use but obviously permissive paths can be removed so that's protected. The next bit used to be open to get to the next woods but by the time I was there had been blocked off years before The last bit was still used when I was there but Gascoyne Estates were actively doing everything possible to block it putting fences up and people stopping you/telling you off. This was about 10 years ago and there was a meeting with riders and cyclists to talk about it.

Which shows how long it can take but finally successful. Gascoyne estates are active round here as well they were trying to build a whole estate on the land behind us