When is a bridleway not a bridleway Sorry long

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Ruftysdad

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Answer, when it is created by Cheshire East to get funding to improve a footpath.

We have a local beauty spot near us which has a footpath following the river. Over recent years the path has become very muddy and difficult to use. Cheshire East then had a good idea, apply for funding from Paths for Communities. They did this and were awarded a sizeable grant. However they had to upgrade the path to a bridleway so that it could be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders ie a condition of the funding was that it would be multi use. Before they started work they concreted a restricted bye way which was the only safe access for horses. This bye way slopes quite steeply and in my view has become dangerous as it is very slippery.

The route was finished on 14th March and I went to have a look. It is marked as a bridleway but there is no safe access and ends with no way out. I decided to have a root on the internet and found notes of a Rights of Way meeting where it was said that horses would be unlikely to use it because they had made it into a cul de sac. However they were allowing cyclists to use footpath exits on a discretionary basis so they could do circular routes.

In my view they have obtained funding on a false premise and I have written to them to say so.

Anyone have any good ideas how our local riders (of which there are many) can take this forward?

I have also put this (in shortened form) on the NW forum
 
Your local council highways department, then the county one!

Report to the BHS bridleways officer for your area too.

Bl**dy cheeky of them if you ask me and your definitely right to question it!
 
Bl**dy cheek. I'd get as many people as possible to write and complain - including to the funding providers. They dont take notice of single complaints but will have to take note of multiple complaints. Set up a local bridleway committee if you can. I think there is a website for reporting lost bridleways also.
 
May be you should organise a ride along the new bridleway to show the Council the route is going to be used. If there are horses coming in both directions because they have had to turn round at the end they may make a suitable exit for you at the other end.
 
Perhaps put in a FOI request, either to Cheshire East or to Paths for Communities,to see what was proposed when the grant was applied for. This might strengthen your argument if as you suspect the funding was obtained under a false premise.
 
Your local council should have a 'access forum' there should be someone representing walkers, cyclists , equestrian , they may be a starting place to complain , some councils better than others tho , ours (sandwell) good with horse access but other local one (walsall) not so good
 
So you say that the access and path itself might be dangerous to use on horseback due to changes carried out by them, although in the recent past it was so used and its name and funding indicate that it should be suitable to horses.

I would send them a legal letter pointing out the dangers to horses and the likliehood that you will be using it with your horse, and point out to them also that this will make it reasonably foreseeable that if you suffer an injury or loss resulting from their negligence, they may be liable under their duty of care. Perhaps also invite them to respond to you as to how they can address their problem positively.
 
Mithras said:
So you say that the access and path itself might be dangerous to use on horseback due to changes carried out by them, although in the recent past it was so used and its name and funding indicate that it should be suitable to horses.

I would send them a legal letter pointing out the dangers to horses and the likliehood that you will be using it with your horse, and point out to them also that this will make it reasonably foreseeable that if you suffer an injury or loss resulting from their negligence, they may be liable under their duty of care. Perhaps also invite them to respond to you as to how they can address their problem positively.
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This is an excellent idea - if it's their bridleway and it is not fit for purpose then they need to sort it out before they get a claim but by informing them (by email or recorded letter) they can not say they were ignorant of it being suitable and therefore mitigate their responsibility...
 
Agree with Mithras, ifyou google Oldham/Rochdale bridleways cases, there was a woman claimed for damages due to badly maaintained bridleway, used to have the referrance, but not on this machine!
 
Your first port of call is to contact 'Paths for Communities' and ask to see a copy of the original agreement between themselves and Cheshire East. If they fail to respond then go back to Paths for Communities and advise them that Cheshire East are in breach of contract.
Once you have determined that what the precise conditions where you can then take the matter up with Cheshire East and ask them how they intend to rectify the matter.
Regarding the surfacing if it is dangerous then contact the Access Department of the local County Council and ask them to take corrective action. If they need advice on surfacing then they can contact the British Horse Society for advice on re-surfacing the route.
 
Thank you everyone.

I have today contacted someone who has worked for years to restore lost bridleways. We recently, together had a huge success in upgrading footpaths to provide a circular route in our area. We had to fight every inch of the way She told me that there was a Rights of Way meeting tomorrow and she will be attending. She will put forward all the points I have raised. She will then report back to me.

I have also approached the funders and appraised them about what has happened. I have to ring them when I know what happened at the Rights of Way meeting.

Another crafty thing the Council has done is not to put any physical barrier to stop horses using the access footpaths (one is wide enough for cars) but they they will take action if horses do use them under Road Traffic regulations. Talking about giving us rope to hang ourselves They could easily have put a gate across leaving cycle and pedestrian access. In my view they want horses to use it and hten they have a lever to say bridleway being abused.

I did put in my letter to Cheshire Rights of Way that if a horse or rider was injured on the newly tarmaced bye way any claim would be against them as a result of their negligence in not taking account of all the users
 
There's one bridleway in Peover that would be really handy but it goes through an underpass about high enough for a section A to get through. Its very annoying.
 
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