Court Ruling on Cattle Grids accross Bridleways

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PeterNatt

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27 Apr, 2012 10:46 CET

The British Horse Society welcomes a high court ruling that a council may not lawfully authorise a cattle-grid across the full width of a footpath or bridleway.

Mr Alan Kind, who edits the journal of the Byways and Bridleways Trust, had served a statutory notice on Northumberland County Council to remove the cattle grid, which obstructed the bridleway at Capheaton, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Following several legal battles Mr Kind, with the support of The British Horse Society, the Byways and Bridleways Trust, the Open Spaces Society and others, appealed to the High Court, who ruled that the cattle grid was an illegal obstruction.

Mark Weston, Director of Access, Safety and Welfare at The British Horse Society, said: “The Society was glad to support Mr Kind with this test case which supports the Kidner decision in 2010 and goes a long way towards establishing firm and clear guidance on obstructions to rights of way and the duty on highway authorities to take simple, firm and prompt action to put things right.”

For further press information and pictures, please contact our Press Officer: Alison Coleman, The British Horse Society, 02476 840463 or a.coleman@bhs.org.uk
 
From memory they may have put in a side gate (whether at the time or later on) but that was actually outside the legal width of the bridleway or some other issue and therefore it would have actually been illegal to use it without the council agreeing a bridleway diversion - which could have meant the horseriders being prevented from using it now or in the future.

Hopefully it will make councils do things properly in future!
 
What are the rules over cattle grids? One bridle way I use has one un marked with a path just off route is that fine as no warning signs.
 
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