How would you find your local County Council BHS Bridleway/Access/Rights of Way Officer?

[teacups]

No, I searched on the BHS site and yes I know the difference between the two.

I also did a search for 'what's on in your area', ticked all the boxes for all types of events, put in 100 miles radius of 'North Yorkshire', and it said nothing could be found. I'm pretty sure there will be something on somewhere within the next few months (just North Yorkshire in itself is a huge area these days) - it's just finding it!

 

[teapot]

The BHS website has become notoriously difficult to usefully find ANYTHING, other than by chance.
Seem to have employed techies instead of equine enthusiasts, which deters existing members - never mind fresh ones. This has been remarked in our local riding group, and is disappointing.
BHS used to publish the direct contact details of Access officers; phone, email etc; but now you can only make contact via a clunky BHS email address - for data protection and corporate monitoring reasons - altho all Access officers are non-salaried volunteers - and it drives some of them to distraction.
Do keep trying, but you might manage more quickly by asking local riders / riding groups who is the local Access Officer, and for their phone number - just cut the complication.

You'll see in the link I posted that direct emails for the regional paid employees access officers are still published so you can contact individuals directly.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

You'll see in the link I posted that direct emails are still published so you can contact individuals directly.

Just the L & SE chairman and the main access officer for the region.
No events within 50 miles, but I know from seeing Facebook recently that there ARE the odd thing going on, usually in Kent or East Sussex, plus one last month in central London.
Surrey doesn't get BHS events or activities as 'there are already active riding clubs in that county', (quote from chairman and her predecessor) therefore one needs to start digging to see what each RC does before finding one to suit, then pay out to join an RC in addition to BHS.

 

[teapot]

Just the L & SE chairman and the main access officer for the region.
No events within 50 miles, but I know from seeing Facebook recently that there ARE the odd thing going on, usually in Kent or East Sussex, plus one last month in central London.
Surrey doesn't get BHS events or activities as 'there are already active riding clubs in that county', (quote from chairman and her predecessor) therefore one needs to start digging to see what each RC does before finding one to suit, then pay out to join an RC in addition to BHS.

I was only talking about access officers - it is incorrect to say their contact details are not publicly available as per the post I quoted. Though granted only the paid regional ones are published. I can understand not having volunteer email addresses available. Caveat of I'd personally only email someone at regional level - they're paid for it, and can be chased as a result.

Having discussed regional work, or lack of, with someone who works for the BHS, a lot of the county issues are simply down to not being able to get a fully 'staffed' committee and is a constant battle. The regional managers and access officers are employees, everything else is on a volunteer basis. There's never anything in West Sussex either. Does the L&SE newsletter still go out to members? That usually had a bit more info in.

 

[Exasperated]

You'll see in the link I posted that direct emails for the regional paid employees access officers are still published so you can contact individuals directly.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t even bothered to look this time because so faffy to do, but I think you’ll find that BHS Access Officers (who are all non-salaried) email addresses will ONLY be a BHS email address, which said officer will have to separately log into. Takes time and effort.
If not, well the BHS are flouting their own policy, which mandated this.

 

[teapot]

I’ll be honest, I haven’t even bothered to look this time because so faffy to do, but I think you’ll find that BHS Access Officers (who are all non-salaried) email addresses will ONLY be a BHS email address, which said officer will have to separately log into. Takes time and effort.
If not, well the BHS are flouting their own policy, which mandated this.

The Regional Access Field Officers are paid, hence the published BHS email address which they'd be working out of directly for however many hours they work a week, and would be the person I'd contact first if I had any form of query. 2023 job ad here outlining their full role https://www.equine-careers.co.uk/vacancies/field-access-officer/

The Access and Bridleway Officer role is voluntary where contact details are not published.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I was only talking about access officers - it is incorrect to say their contact details are not publicly available as per the post I quoted. Though granted only the paid regional ones are published. I can understand not having volunteer email addresses available.

Having discussed regional work, or lack of, with someone who works for the BHS, a lot of the county issues are simply down to not being able to get a fully 'staffed' committee and is a constant battle. The regional managers and access officers are employees, everything else is on a volunteer basis. There's never anything in West Sussex either. Does the L&SE newsletter still go out to members? That usually had a bit more info in.

There is an irregular email that comes out (between 4 and 8 weeks, most items are generic from HQ though usually at least 1 to mention something in Kent or similar), but tbh unless you are on Facebook then you'd rarely find out anything. The events link in the email directly takes you to main BHS site, where you then have to click away to get your region, then select type of event and distance etc

I was on the committee till around 2017 but when they moved the meetings to another county, several of us fell by the wayside as then too far to sensibly travel, but we were hoping that they pulled new folk in. At that point there was quite an active area across the 3 counties and London.
I have no idea who the volunteers are now for access locally, sadly. The defunct year book had info in, then emails did, but nothing in emails now as we are signposted through the Regional Access officer who is 1st point of contact.

 

[Exasperated]

The Regional Access Field Officers are paid, hence the published BHS email address which they'd be working out of directly for however many hours they work a week, and would be the person I'd contact first if I had any form of query. 2023 job ad here outlining their full role https://www.equine-careers.co.uk/vacancies/field-access-officer/

The Access and Bridleway Officer role is voluntary where contact details are not published.

Teapot, you’re right, but if the bridletrack down your lane is blocked by a fallen tree / whatever, what you want to do is speak with the local BHS Access Officer who will probably know the route in question, possibly know the landowner or relevant local authority Rights of Way person, maybe meet you on site, and sort that issue, for you, ASAP. Or at least, advise you what to do next.
As it is, you must go around the houses, even if able to successfully negotiate the BHS site.
It’s unfortunate the old Yearbook couldn’t just become electronic, because riders found that info and format very helpful.
But the siting of valuable BHS information on ANOTHER website (Facebook) instantly excludes many, and particularly older, users.
Is this because BHS salaried employees personally spend a lot of time on Facebook? Info could be on both, but definitely the BHS one. A BHS website should prioritise users’ needs, not employees’.
From all this thread, the BHS website does not seem routinely helpful in meeting the needs of users, which may impact their enthusiasm for the organisation, possibly membership figures, and runs a serious risk of becoming irrelevant. Most horse people would not want that!

 

[teapot]

Oh absolutely @Exasperated and what's worse is those issues are not limited to access. From what I've heard from the other side of the fence there is a gulf between what those at the top think everyone wants, and what everyone else thinks they want, including staff, across the board, so I don't blame the employees themselves. The website redesign was not welcomed by all accounts. Rightly or wrongly, the BHS are not the only guilty ones about using social media as a source of latest information, especially so in the equestrian industry. It's cheaper and easier to maintain though which explains a lot.

This is the same charity/org where in 2024, you still can't book an exam, make payment and have the booking confirmed online, therefore my level of expectation is below ground level, sadly. I cancelled my membership this year.

Hopefully @PeterNatt is collating info to pass back!

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Not long. Found mine online on the council website last week as I had a bridle way issue. I filled in the online form and have already had an email to say they have inspected the problem and are contacting the

But could you find what you needed on the BHS link Peter provided?

Yes, I found the BHS Access person through the In Your Area button but decided it might be quicker to go through the council instead

 

[Exasperated]

Oh absolutely @Exasperated and what's worse is those issues are not limited to access. From what I've heard from the other side of the fence there is a gulf between what those at the top think everyone wants, and what everyone else thinks they want, including staff, across the board, so I don't blame the employees themselves. The website redesign was not welcomed by all accounts. Rightly or wrongly, the BHS are not the only guilty ones about using social media as a source of latest information, especially so in the equestrian industry. It's cheaper and easier to maintain though which explains a lot.

This is the same charity/org where in 2024, you still can't book an exam, make payment and have the booking confirmed online, therefore my level of expectation is below ground level, sadly. I cancelled my membership this year.

Hopefully @PeterNatt is collating info to pass back!

Yes, I found the BHS Access person through the In Your Area button but decided it might be quicker to go through the council instead

Probably would be faster, although how quickly a council can actually fix your problem might be another story!

I don’t know about BHS staff, but an ex- Access (volunteer) Officer recently said he couldn’t work the website at all, someone had asked him about a local obstruction, he wanted to refer on to the current person, and couldn’t.
Hope BHS do listen, or members will understandably leave, are already riders for whom public liability insurance is the only draw.