Persuading council to create a bridle path.

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mhorses

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Hi everybody, I live in a large village where there are few quiet roads and I have difficulty finding anywhere quiet to hack. About 5 years ago a local councillor proposed a new cycle and bridle path to be created along a 3 mile stretch of a river that surrounds the village. He stepped down the following year and nothin has been done? There are 2 local riding schools and many cyclists and riders in the surrounding area. What way should I go about this. Petition? Any ideas would be great or past experiences. I am taking a gap year from uni and would love to focus on something like this as part of my year out and feel like I have achieved something which locals, friends and i can use. Some of The land is owned by farmers i think. Thanks
 
The council should have someone who looks after bridlepaths (even though there are none in your area) there will be someone who looks after public rights of way etc. I think its a brilliant idea! Good Luck x
 
Try contacting the Public Rights Of Way Officer in your local council. One of the problems at the moment is that public funds are very very tight, and so any cost is unlikely to be met by the council. It might also be worth contacting Sustrans, esp if you are thinking of bikes as well as horses, they seem to have access to funds, or at least know ways of accessing them. Good luck with it.
ps it may be worth sounding out the local land owners for their opinion, some may not be keen on the idea.
 
If it is a route already used you can apply for a modification order and get the details from your council website. A lot of ROW now come under Highways department at the council. A modification order allows you to add,remove or change status of current ROWs. You will need to get witnesses to make a short statement to say they have used x route etc. The forms explain it all and it is free!! Just a bit time consuming thats all. But that might help you. The waiting list is very long though they are under staffed! under resourced etc etc
 
Thanks so much for your help guys apprieciate it! Will start doing research and keep yous posted. The more bridle ways the better!
 
The first thing to do is to purchase an Ordanace Survey map of your area (Either Explorer or Landranger). You can purchase them online from Ordnance Survey.
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Then find out who owns the land that your proposed route passes over.
Then get in contact with your local BHS access officer and ask them for help in persuading the landowners to dedicate the route over their land as of bridleway or even better restricted byway status.
Then you can have the route adopted and placed on the definitive map.
Then many present and future generations of riders can enjoy using it thanks to you.
 
indie999 said:
If it is a route already used you can apply for a modification order and get the details from your council website. A lot of ROW now come under Highways department at the council. A modification order allows you to add,remove or change status of current ROWs. You will need to get witnesses to make a short statement to say they have used x route etc. The forms explain it all and it is free!! Just a bit time consuming thats all. But that might help you. The waiting list is very long though they are under staffed! under resourced etc etc
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Having fought for years trying to do this with evidence and statements, if the landowner doesn't want it and is prepared to go to court thats when your in trouble. Our council said it would take 5 years just to get the case to court as per one near us that took 15 years.
 
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