Footpath saga.........

[harveydales]

We have a public footpath running across our land, between the 2 main horse paddocks. We rarely get problems with it and mostly I enjoy stopping for a chat with passing walkers. We do get the odd idiots who throw their empty bottles and cans into the horse fields but rarely does any one leave gates open.

A few years ago we approached the Council and asked whether we could remove 2 styles which wre serving no purpose at all and put in 2 new styles either side of the gates deviding the horse paddocks so I can move animals between the pddocks without them getting onto the public footpath.

The Council agreed and the arrangement was that they would provide the styles and we would install them. This was all done.

Then walkers moaned that their dogs couldn't get over or under the styles. So the Council came along and installed little dog gates next to the styles. Then walkers complained that their dogs wouldn't fit through the dog gates. But nothing was done about it - for heavens sake, if your dog can't get over or under a style and can't fit through a dog gate, then are they fit to go on a walk in the countryside in the first place?

Then yesterday I got a call from the Council requesting a site meeting because disabled people can't manage styles. I pointed outt hat the whole 5 mile length of the path is cmpletely unsuitable for wheel chairs so the styles are neither here nor there. I was then told that peole with hip replacements might have problems. Also the recent rain has caused waterlogging of the path which people are finding a problem.

Now this may be very non-PC of me but I get cross about this sort of thing. I can't walk the footpath myself due to my ankle problems but don't moan to the Council about it - perhaps I should! The only solution to the problem is to tarmac the whole path or perhaps the whole countryside.

I'm hoping Andy can get some time off for the site meeting because I'm going to be too annoyed to be objective and sensible. We need to suggest some people friendly gates which are also horse safe/proof and a way of keeping the footpath dry! Our paddock is ancient ridge and furrow grassland, and has been untouched for at least 300 years so to alter this would, imo, be criminal.

I'll get off my soap box now but would be interested to hear if any of you have this sort of problem.

[SuzieP]

Well!! I'd heard about this sort of thing on the radio - and you've had first hand experience of the Council's so-called "disabled friendly" gates haven't you?

I'd be cross too and whilst I do understand from first hand that it can be difficult walking in the countryside with a hip problem, I just get on with it and accept that one of the main attractions of walking is the variation of the terrain and the unspoiltness of the area.

Before agreeing to anything, what about asking the Council to carry out a census of the people who use the footpath to see how many have disabilities and how many find it impassable and for what reasons. That should exercise their minds a bit.....

Also, if the proposal seems to threaten the ridge and furrow, could you get English Heritage onto the case?

Good luck, Pam.

[greydales]

Oh for goodness sake! I'm afraid I shouldn't comment really as I get so fed up with all this PC stuff, especially in this kind if situation, where common sense doesn't seem to exist.

Sorry I can't be of any help Pam, but can imagine how you feel!!

[DalesLady]

I didn't think ridge and furrow could be altered today. I think it is rare, so Sue may have a point there.

I am sorry you are having problems with walker access etc. It shocks me how many "walkers" are not prepared to walk a little water or mud and how it is always the landowners fault and problem; like we make it rain and churn up mud all by ourselves.... We have had many complaints over the years regarding state of muddy paths through our farm, it makes me wonder just whether these people should ever be allowed to leave the towns. Personally I find them very irritating and selfish, wanting everything both ways. They think nothing of trying to stop us using paths on the edge of town for riding, which have been used for such purpose for generations, and then complain about the paths in the proper countryside too.

And where does all this pc stuff end? Locally, there is talk of a bridle path being opened, but only if funding can be obtained from somewhere and if the path is made accessible to invalid carriages. There is a perfectly good path through the woodland but that isnt good enough, more land has to be bought to create a new path, as Woodland Trust own the wood and won't allow horses or anyone else through it, which I find strange as elsewhere in the country I hear they do. When I asked how many of these were going to bother leaving town, 3/4 mile down a very steep hill onto the path, I was told research said 0.3 per year! eh? oh and the country path would have to be a surfaced one for their benefit.

Good luck with this one Pam

[DalesLady]

greydales said:

Oh for goodness sake! I'm afraid I shouldn't comment really as I get so fed up with all this PC stuff, especially in this kind if situation, where common sense doesn't seem to exist.

Sorry I can't be of any help Pam, but can imagine how you feel!!

it isn't about common sense anymore, its about ticking boxes and I agree with you, I get seriously fed up too

[SuzieP]

Just another thought - ask the Council if they've done a Best Value assessment of any proposed work! LOL! They have to be able to demonstrate that they're getting value for tax-payers' money. If, say, two people in a month have difficulty getting over the style and it costs £1000 to upgrade the right of way can this be considered best value?

Ask them what they are going to do to protect your property and animals from the path users - tell them you've found bottles and cans thrown in the paddocks which present a H&S
risk to both you and your animals.

If they are going to make the path wheelchair accessible - what happens to it when it has passed through your property? If the path is to be more accessible, will this increase the traffic across your drive and if so who is responsible for maintaining it?

It is only a site meeting at this stage and it could be that the rights of way office hasn't seen the path yet. It may not be feasible to improve the surface, although they could well want to put gates on instead of styles.

[harveydales]

Sue - I heard that program on Radio 4 about disabled people campaigning to get public rights of way open for wheelchairs and quads. I do sympathise to a certain extent but there are limits, as Andy says, common sense isn't that common!

Thanks for the tips. I will make sure we're properly prepared for this site meeting. Will keep you posted!

Penny - it sounds like you have similar problems to us. I could go on and on!

[leannwithconnie]

Crazy!! Good luck for the site meeting Pam...When is it?

[jec248]

This country's gone absolutely crazy!!!! I'll say no more because once I start I may not stop!!!!!



Good luck.

[Debbie]

and good luck! Lots of good points for your corner

[mickey]

Good grief. Id probably not say anything as it'd appear very unpc. Common sense?! Doesnt seem to exist sadly. Suggest they install a roof and make it a covered walk way if they want a dry path.... with automatic doors... and a non slip floor... with a cleaner to come and clean it reguarly to stop anyone slipping on wet leaves....

[harveydales]

LOL Emily, that is exactly what I would like to say and is why I want Andy to be there so stop me!

No date arranged yet - Andy is going to ring from work and sort out a date when he can get an afternoon off work.

[harleydales]

LOL Emily! Don't forget the tea room, toilets and a macdonalds on the way too!!

I hope Andy can make them see sense Pam.

[harveydales]

Site meeting is set for Feb 13th. Andy talked to the Council today and they didn't mention the wet ground but said they have some money to spend on footpaths and will come round with a book of different types of gates for us to discuss. So more tax payers money to be wasted........ I'll suggest the toilets - there's many a time walkers ask me where the nearest loo is!

[zeldalithgow]

Good luck Pam