Gates blocking bridlepaths

[MrsElle]

One of the bridlepaths in our village has a gate at the end, put up by the owner of the house next to the bridlepath. Apparently this is to deter people going down it as they don’t like people going past their house. They have already been told by the parish council not to park their cars in front of the gate as it blocks access.

This gate has the latch well down meaning that I would have to dismount to open it. I would then be unable to get back on as there is nothing nearby that I could use as a mounting block.

Are people who put gates across bridle paths able to do so when it is a public right of way? I am planning to go the parish council with this as it is a shame that none of the riders in the village can use this path – we all have the same problem so use other routes instead, but we would all like to use this route if possible.

What are our chances of getting the gate taken down or some sort of easier, higher up latch being fitted so we can open and close it without dismounting?

 

[Booboos]

As far as I know landowners have to obtain permission before putting up a gate on a bridleway or footpath. I would call your local access officer at your local council and they should be able to help, but from what you say:
a) the land does not belong to the guy who put up the gate
b) he did not obtain permission to do so
c) the gate is not suitable for use on a bridleway

so I would imagine it should be possible to get it removed.

 

[Cuffey]

Speak to Access Dept in your local council
Should be possible to fit long handle to gate latch but wonder if householder had permission to fit gate in first place.
A self closing gate of this type would have been better
http://www.centrewire.com/one-way-gates/chiltern-bridle-gate-%E2%80%93-one-way-opening

 

[flyingfeet]

So hang on - the only issue is you have to get off?

Get a Easy Mount if you struggle getting back on!

Many gates around us have dropped off their hinges so you have to get off, I generally scrabble up the gate and back onto the neddy. If no animals, will consider leaving a gap if the gate is really heavy.

 

[MrsElle]

[ QUOTE ]
So hang on - the only issue is you have to get off?

Get a Easy Mount if you struggle getting back on!

Many gates around us have dropped off their hinges so you have to get off, I generally scrabble up the gate and back onto the neddy. If no animals, will consider leaving a gap if the gate is really heavy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lol, I can't mount one from the ground as I have a problem with my hips and can't actually lift my legs above knee height so even using an easy mount I couldn't do it. The gate exits on a bend on a busy lane with no pavements and mounting standing on the gate wouldn't be the safest thing to do.

Also, the point is that this bridleway does not need a gate. It doesn’t encroach onto any private property and is a route that takes you past the back gardens of some houses. There are high hawthorn hedges on each side of the bridleway, it does not border open fields at any point. The people who put the gate up use it as an extension of their garden, their kids play on it etc, and they don’t want people to go down there, its as simple as that

 

[flyingfeet]

Ah well in that case call your local council, they are generally quite helpful.

If land is council and not private, you could ask permission to remove the gate (they may not know its there). Or permission to improve access.

We have a footpath on our land and got asked if volunteers could improve it - we bit their hands off and they did a fantastic job of improving all our stiles even doing really thoughtful things like putting in staples to stop people slipping on the stiles.

 

[DW Team]

Would it be worth a quick call to the BHS see how things stand I thought that you were not allowed to gate bridlepaths. http://www.bhs.org.uk/content/Acs-home.asp after all they would like us all to ride off road as much as possible. I would love the chance but no bridleways in this area seem to go anywhere other than out on to very busy A roads. This seems like an itresting page http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/access/prow/protecting.htm do not know if it helps. Good luck in getting you gate sorted do let us know how you get on.

 

[1928sky]

erinite- Of course you are allowed to gate bridleways! How else do you think the farmer is going to keep his cows in the field, or maybe he shouldn't use his field because there so happens to be a bridleway through it!

 

[MrsElle]

[ QUOTE ]
erinite- Of course you are allowed to gate bridleways! How else do you think the farmer is going to keep his cows in the field, or maybe he shouldn't use his field because there so happens to be a bridleway through it!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, bridlepaths crossing farm land should be gated and I personally have no problem with that. Just this particular one gets my goat

 

[OWLIE185]

A gate that can not be opened from horse back is an illegal obstruction under Rights of Way Law.

If they have placed a new gate on a bridleway (or even any existing gates) it must be possible to open it from horseback. It should have a long handle fitted to it so that this is possible.

Contact the Access Department of your local County Council enclosing a map which shows exactly where the gate is. Send them a copy of the map and a letter giving your full contact details (including mobile phone) so that they can get back to you as they will send someone out for a site visit. Send the letter to them by Royal Mail Signed for delivery so that there is no doubt that they received your letter.

If you do not hear from them after two weeks then write to them again and ask them to respond in writing.

 

[DW Team]

I love duns

Sorry I did not put that very well. I should have said hang a gate where no gate had been before across a path. Of course I have been down many bridleways through fields of livestock and been chased by a few of them in my time but if you can't open a gate from your horse and it is a bridleway it does not seem right. Sorry for not putting it very well. You were very quick to point out my mistake. I was only trying to help MrsElle. May be I think I should not bother if people are going to jump on me for offering two possible links to HELP. Thought the idea was to help I am quite clearly Wrong

 

[OWLIE185]

Regarding the post from Erinite then I would like to suggest that if you have some bridleways but they end up on roads then why not work out a route for some new bridleways that will link them together so that you have a nice local off road route.

It would also be usefull to find out the names and contact details of the land owners concerned.

You can then contact your local County or Regional BHS Bridleway officer and they will be pleased to help you to achieve these new routes.

If you require any further asistance then contact me.

 

[emma69]

Tongue firmly in cheek here, but you could always call up some local fearless teenagers who want to jump back and forth over the gate all day long, and send a nice little note to the householders thanking them for the 'awesome new jump' they have put up, and how they will now change their hacking route to come over this way all the time, and maybe bring the local hunt too, with all the dogs, early on saturday mornings