People blocking access ways - who to complain to?

[Jingleballs]

I was out hacking today and decided to finish off with a wee pootle through the forest we have right next to the yard.

Just as I was approaching the exit, a car pulled up and blocked the exit which is a narrow makeshift gateway because the forestry ran out of money to put in a proper horse gate.

When the exited the car I asked politely if they could please move the car slightly to let me out. The woman stormed back into the car and made a bit show of reversing the car to let me through, glaring at me as she did so. She then preceeded to move the car back to the exact same spot blocking the gateway.

I asked her husband if the could possibly not park there as there are other riders who regularly hack in that at the weekends and they were effectively blocking the exit/entrance.

I was abruptly told that this gateway is always blocked and they walked their dogs there alll the time to which I responded that this was not the case and since I livery my horse all of 50 yards up the road and hack him in there almost daily in the summer so he should get his facts straight. I also made a point of mentioning that I'd be noting their registration (which I did) and reporting them to the police.

The thing is though, I'm not really sure the police would be interested - would it be better to contact the council? The forestry commission or even the BHS access officer to get something done to stop this happening?

Had I been a few minutes later getting to the gate I'd have been effectively blocked in the forest and since there are over 70 acres of it it's not feasible to go round trying to find the owners of the car!

I have previously had to squeeze past parked cars and I'm lucky that my pony doesn't fuss too much but it's still dangerous.

So, any suggestions who best to contact?

 

[PennyJ]

Forestry Commission I would have thought. Here in New Forest there is a bit of a campaign going on to stop drivers blocking gateways, it could stop an emergency vehicle getting through if one were ever needed.

I'm sure they'll stop after the time they come back and a horse has sat on its bonnet or paintwork has been scraped by a stirrup as a rider tries to get through the gateway they're blocking.

Nation of you know whats as pedantic puts it.

 

[Fransurrey]

Yes, the FC is your first port of call. Check you have a right to ride there, though. If it's not a public bridleway, they may be operating a permit system.

 

[Fransurrey]

Forestry Commission I would have thought. Here in New Forest there is a bit of a campaign going on to stop drivers blocking gateways, it could stop an emergency vehicle getting through if one were ever needed.

Had to laugh at this. When I had my serious accident in the NF, the ambulance got lost (took over an hour to get there, despite a friend going to meet them at a landmark) and when they got there, they didn't have a way of getting through the gate or know a way of contacting the FC!

 

[Quadro]

Try the council we have have had the prob of a farmer putting a pretty big log (about 3"3) to block the public path through his land. Its a right of way so its blocking walkers etc as well. THe council asked us to collect signatures and have been pretty good about it, so i would give them a try they might help with signs or something?
I just jump the log anyway
Q

 

[SavingGrace]

I would speak to the access people at the local council that is who I contacted when I was having a similar issue a few years back.

 

[asyouwish]

I wouldnt have crossed words with them to be fair. And i wouldnt have told them i liveried just up the road either as people can be nasty. I have heard of people and horses being assualted for riders mouthing or defending themselves. Better to be safe than have the last word

I would report them to the people who own or police the forest and see what they have to say. Its not right them blocking the access. Is there not a car park if its a popular place to walk or hack? Most popular forests normally have parking or lay bys.

Or you could try putting up official looking signs telling people not to block the gates.

 

[Pedantic]

Enshrine of Tools.

 

[PeterNatt]

If it is a Forestry Commision track then contact the Forestry Commision. If it is a public bridleway then contact the access department of your local county council.

 

[Jnhuk]

If it is a Forestry Commision track then contact the Forestry Commision. If it is a public bridleway then contact the access department of your local county council.

I wish there were public bridleways in Scotland. BB try the BHS Scotland (access) folks for advice

http://www.bhsscotland.org.uk/resources.html

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

We have had this too, the car was dirty so i got off with my finger drew in the dirt in the door . next time leave me a can opener this is a horse exit dont park here



another time similar thing car across the exit
, no room to pass or so i thought i pushed the wing mirrors in and squeezed past.


Def FC or council keep reg

 

[Jingleballs]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've sent an email off to the local council access officer, the forestry commission and the BHS access officer simply asking if we can have a solution to this - even in the form of some signs asking people not to park across the entrance.

I'll be on the look out for the people I encountered today and if I spot them blocking the access way again I'll also report them to the police.

Pedantic - couldn't agree more with you - it feels like some people just enjoy making life difficult for other people and common curtesy and good manners don't exist anymore!

 

[fallenangel123]

People are just thoughtless in general I find. I used to live in a cottage in the woods, went riding and when I got back there was a car blocking the gate to the house and yard so I couldn't get in! OH worked nights and was asleep so didn't answer the phone to come and help. After about 40mins a guy arrived having walkedhis dog so I politely explained that I had been stuck holding my horse in the lane because of him. He hurled a mouthful of abuse including 'How was he supposed to know' ( thought my house and car would be a giveaway that it was a drive?) before reversing into me and speeding off!
I rang the police but they did nothing about it.

Hopefully the FC will put signs up if you pester them!

 

[cremedemonthe]

Those people seem to have the same mentality as people who insist on parking their cars,vans , lorries etc so far on the path you can't use the path at all, so you walk in the road (with 3 dogs on leads) and then the drivers get annoyed with you for being in the way!
Cars rule it seems.
Hope you get it sorted soon.