Laws on taking horse on Parish Council Land?

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GlebeFarm

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Hi folks

Was just wondering if anyone has come across this before. My little boy uses his 10.2hh Shetland like a buggy. He rides him to and from the village school etc. The other day I went to walk up to the playground and was accosted by a very snotty parish council saying I was not allowed to take him up there. After a wrangle I walked on past and told him if he had such a problem with it to write to me. My question is was I in the wrong or not? I never take the pony on the play area at all I sit with him on the edge.

If anyone at all knows the answer to this I would be grateful.

H
 
Thats very sweet I always used to daydream about riding my pony to school :) I take it you go with and then bring said pony home?
Sorry i'm afraid I dont have the answer though, just wanted to say I thought it was nice!
 
Do you mean your sons' riding on the village green? Usually, somewhere, there's a list of the byelaws for village greens/common land/parks.

Some you can ride on, some you can't.

Think you'd have to contact the Council and ask.
 
So was he saying you couldn't go on the path to the playground, or the playground itself, or along the road to it? You are probably not allowed to bring animals onto the playground itself - it will depend on the local bylaws.
 
It is actually the village playground not green. He was saying couldn't go up track to or on to playground. I need to see byelaws I think.
 
We asked our local council if we could ride on the local playing field. They agreed to us using a section of it away from the football pitches. They actually granted us permission to get an arena built there to be run by a group of us, if we sorted the funds ourself.....hence it never got built!!
 
Ok, just remember that it is the Parish Councils duty to reflect the views of the village - not their own personal views (and they often forget this).

Therefore, if there aren't any specific by-laws and it is just someone being a bit grumpy, it may be useful to gather some support from other parents and present it to the Parish Council. Though maybe a bit of tack and suggesting a route that avoid other amenities may be sensible!!
 
GlebeFarm said:
It is actually the village playground not green. He was saying couldn't go up track to or on to playground. I need to see byelaws I think.
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I really don't think horses have a place on a village playground. Would you go and collect any droppings the pony may make? Is the area in question mowed? If so then the unwritten rule is no horses on mowed areas, may that be village greens, verges, etc.
 
Speaking from the point(s) of view of a) and mother of a son who sometimes commutes from school on his pony and b) as a member of our Parish Council:

- the members of the Parish Council have to respond to complaint(s) that may have been received about your pony going on the path/land. They may be the messenger - so don't shoot them.

- this may be a footpath, or private land (ownership by the PC doesn't put it in 'public owership') with permission granted for pedestrian access only

- the majority of parents, or non-parents in the parish probably don't want the precedent set of equines, no matter how small, cute, cuddly or safe, being allowed on to the land in question. Partly because of muck, partly because of damage to land, and partly because of safety to the children on the playground.

Best thing to do I think is be nice, be polite, and telephone either your parish clerk or parish council chairman to ask for clarification on where you are allowed to take the pony
 
The trouble is that you will be setting a precedent, opening up the path for other horse users, if they let you use it how can they stop other horse owners, regardless of the reasons. You also have health and safety issues, ok, you are leading the pony, but it can still kick and bite.
I am on our parish council and i'm afraid i would not support you using the path.
 
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