For anyone that would like more off road hacking.

[PeterNatt]

I have been for many years a volunteer British Horse Society Access Officer. Our small team in Hertfordshire have achieved many new routes over the years but unfortunately there is now the 2026 deadline looming up after which time we can no longer claim routes using historic evidence. This will mean that many routes will be lost. Claiming routes can take many years of hard work for instance one I claimed 23 years ago is only now hopefully going to be achieved.

Unfortunately due to the Pandemic our work has been restricted as we have had no access to public records which we need to have when researching routes.

I would like to ask anyone that has not already done so to sign the below petition to have the 2026 deadline extended.

Many thanks

https://petition.parliament.uk/peti...fzadNCJIVJSLWTYzzX5ht1E3Td-Ldhp08qg4eQr_0AxRk

 

[Gingerwitch]

Thanks
Peter where do you go for help with a bridle path that us now unrideable because mountain bikes have made a channel in it so unless you have tb legs on one side and shetland legs on the other it is now unrideable.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Signed to give thread a bump

 

[wren123]

Done x

 

[chocolategirl]

Signed ?

 

[DabDab]

Done

 

[Trouper]

Done. Thanks for posting.

 

[Steerpike]

Signed

 

[RHM]

Signed x

 

[ponyparty]

Done - will share on social media too.

 

[Arzada]

Thanks
Peter where do you go for help with a bridle path that us now unrideable because mountain bikes have made a channel in it so unless you have tb legs on one side and shetland legs on the other it is now unrideable.

I don't know of anything that can be done. We had the same difficulty trying to ride a green lane that had been carved up by off road 4 wheel drives with deep tread tyres. We gave up on the lane after 2 perilous attempts. On the plus side, though not much help with the destruction issues, I have recently seen acknowledgement on a cycling forum of the work done by horse riders to claim and preserve routes and that cyclists should do the same.

 

[Callieann]

Signed

 

[Brownmare]

Thanks
Peter where do you go for help with a bridle path that us now unrideable because mountain bikes have made a channel in it so unless you have tb legs on one side and shetland legs on the other it is now unrideable.

Your local council is responsible for surfacing of rights of way. There should be an access officer you can deal with.

 

[COldNag]

done.

 

[SEL]

I have been for many years a volunteer British Horse Society Access Officer. Our small team in Hertfordshire have achieved many new routes over the years but unfortunately there is now the 2026 deadline looming up after which time we can no longer claim routes using historic evidence. This will mean that many routes will be lost. Claiming routes can take many years of hard work for instance one I claimed 23 years ago is only now hopefully going to be achieved.

Unfortunately due to the Pandemic our work has been restricted as we have had no access to public records which we need to have when researching routes.

I would like to ask anyone that has not already done so to sign the below petition to have the 2026 deadline extended.

Many thanks

https://petition.parliament.uk/peti...fzadNCJIVJSLWTYzzX5ht1E3Td-Ldhp08qg4eQr_0AxRk

Can I ask what sort of public records you're looking at? We have a route near us that is a driveway to a farm and was used for decades by the local village - until the farm changed hands and they put up no entry signs. I strongly suspect that's because they didn't want it adopted as a public route. I'm guessing unless the local villagers insist (& they won't for upsetting relationships) then this will remain private, but I was wondering whether it was ever shown as an access path in the past.

 

[Widgeon]

I've already signed, but thanks. For the people asking about existing rights of way, I think your local BHS Bridleways officer ought to be able to help? Assuming they're proactive - ours is good round here, we're lucky

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Signed

 

[Bradsmum]

Signed

 

[Keith_Beef]

Done!

 

[PeterNatt]

Gingerwitch! What we did was to get a 'Permanent Vehicle Restriction Order' placed on the byway which had been destroyed by motorised vehicles on the basis that there were Roman remains under it. Having done that we dug it up, put a lining down and re-surfaced it (All 4 miles of it). SEL We do historic research and also get user evidence to claim routes. There are two very good books called Rights of Way Restoring the Record by Sarah Bucks and Phil Wadey and 'Rights of Way - A guide to Law and Practice by John Riddall and John Trevelyan. Well worth a read and you can also contact your local BHS Access Officer for assistance as well.