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Post by SuzieP on Jan 25, 2008 23:05:03 GMT -1
At least they ask for a loo, Pam, and don't just pee in the hedge! !
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Post by PonyGirl on Jan 26, 2008 2:50:52 GMT -1
This is right up there with the woman that did the law suit to McDonalds. "SHE" was the one that put the "HOT" coffee in her crotch. But "she" sued them because it was "HOT". It is just not right!
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Post by harveydales on Jan 26, 2008 6:22:07 GMT -1
LOL Sue! I did spot a man peeing on my horse trailer wheel last year - I was not impressed. Why do men have to pee "on" an upright object of some description? Are they marking territory?
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Post by zeldalithgow on Jan 26, 2008 7:47:47 GMT -1
Men!! at least it was just the wheel and he wasn't trying to see how high he could get
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Post by greydales on Jan 26, 2008 8:32:04 GMT -1
So Pam, if your footpath has to undergo these ridiculous conditions does this mean that every darn footpath in the country should be made suitable for disabled people?? We might as well tarmac over the countryside just in case  I would not be able to attend this meeting as I would blow my top!!! |
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Post by Debbie on Jan 26, 2008 11:39:27 GMT -1
I'd think carefully about where the loos would be sited. I'd hate to be caught downwind from them. It would ruin your airquality  |
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Post by harveydales on Jan 26, 2008 18:01:03 GMT -1
Gill, I think it's a government thing!  I've herad they are trying to get many footpaths suitable for disabled and wheelchairs which is a total nonsense in situations like ours. Mind you, if we did tarmac the fields I wouldn't have the mud problem. They could be painted green so it looks like grass and I needn't restrict Quest's turnout. |
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Post by SuzieP on Feb 20, 2008 6:54:22 GMT -1
Any progress on this Pam? I was chatting with my Dad about this when I was away last week - he is a big champion of access for disabled, and also a countryman so I was interested in his view of it.
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Post by harveydales on Feb 20, 2008 9:00:41 GMT -1
What was his point of view then? The site meeting took place last week. Because this footpath is one the Council are promoting (the Wonderlust Way) they want to get rid of all styles and replace them with gates. We were allowed to choose which type of gate will be suitable for our purposes ie safe for horses. The gates will be installed in March with no cost to us. So can't moan at that! The Council woman did ask us not to allow the horses to walk freely across the footpath from paddock to paddock but I intend to ignore that suggestion! It is only for a 2 month period in the winter and we always roll the land and make good afterwards. If the situation gets worse, the council will come and put in land drains! This is completely OTT in my opinion, and that is speaking as some one who struggles to walk on rough ground. What did annoy me, was when I mentioned the bridleway with the dangerous gate/bridge again she said the land owner in question is a horse rider and maintains he can cope fine himself with his own horse so the council will just monitor the situation! If I say I can cope fine walking through the mud on our footpath, that is a different matter............... |
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Post by SuzieP on Feb 20, 2008 14:43:36 GMT -1
Well - it's difficult to say what's Dad's point of view because he tends to play Devil's Advocate in conversations like this which is really annoying when you want to get an honest opinion.
He is all for access for people with disabilities - but couldn't quite understand why they would want to make a footpath accessible if it was deep in mud. Someone might be able to open the gate, but then would the mud make it difficult to negotiate the path. Also, he asked where the path led - was it to an area of natural beauty or something. I said I thought not and he was surprised that the Council were bothering with it. But then if, as you say, they're promoting this path then that explains the fuss.
How exactly are you supposed to stop the horses walking across the path if it runs between the paddocks? Would they ask a farmer to stop his cattle crossing a path? I think not....it's all part of being in the countryside isn't it? Whilst I agree that dangerous animals shouldn't graze in fields with footpaths running through them, walkers have to accept that the countryside isn't a playground and is, in fact, a place of work for many people.
It would be interesting to see how the landowner negotiates that gate!
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Post by NFK Dumpling on Feb 20, 2008 14:46:58 GMT -1
Any progress on this Pam? I was chatting with my Dad about this when I was away last week - he is a big champion of access for disabled, and also a countryman so I was interested in his view of it. I have a friend with MS who keeps Highland Cattle that she manages to "walk" around them each day in her mobility scooter so it doesn't have to be tarmac. On the other hand my Mum quit the Ramblers Association because she felt they were too militant, all the people she walked with were fit and able-bodied. It makes you wonder where the pressure on the council comes from  If its the same path that your pic was of a couple of months ago maybe you should have suggested kiyaking Pam  Hope they leave you and your ponies in peace now..... |
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Post by lucydales on Feb 20, 2008 17:05:28 GMT -1
The Council man "did" me last summer on our foot path cos a towny newbie illegally diverted the foot path that runs through his garden into the farmer's field that adjoins it. When they get a complaint, the council chap walks the path from end to end and puts anything else amiss right too. So cos this chap was a kn*b it cost me £200 so I was not amused! I had 4 "notices" served on me and about 2 weeks to do the work. I had to install a bridge across a dry ditch, make a new style (the ladder one had been there as long as I have!), make some steps to cross my temporary electric fencing and improve the path surface (it was July and the rain and mud was worse than winter!) which I said I couldn't do until the ground was fit to get on with a tractor. He didn't like the fact that my muck heap was next to the path (but couldn't do anything about that). Being a good girl I complied with the work but my neighbour who also had to change a ladder style hasn't bothered and nothings been followed up with him! Now that makes me mad! Also their signage is poor so I often get trespassers wandering about my farm looking for some "Way" or other and they don't do anything about that! Rant over! You have my sympathy Pam! I wish my council paid for the works! Fortunately we don't go anywhere interesting so the usage is low as it's my main horse field, so we're unlikely to get asked for disabled gates. There is a very good company that make bothway opening self closing gates (great for horses), I will try and find the link ( www.centrewire.com ). I am thinking of maybe putting some next to my big field gates (if I win the lottery!) Someone also asked for a link to solar battery trickle chargers? Was it Zelda? I got one of these from Ebay (don't pay too much as you can get them elsewhere for under a tenner I think!) cgi.ebay.co.uk/solar-power-12v-battery-charger-electric-fence-tractor_W0QQitemZ160210384562QQihZ006QQcategoryZ1269QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemRoll on spring! |
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Post by harveydales on Feb 20, 2008 20:32:04 GMT -1
Good grief, Lucy, no wonder you're annoyed! So they didn't want to see a muck heap in the countryside! I don't know whether it is the same company our Council are using but the 3 gates they are putting in look exactly like the metal "Marlow" gate. Not checked the price but I'm sure they are very expensive and 2 of the existing wooden styles are in perfectly good order! |
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Post by dollylanedales on Feb 20, 2008 20:52:55 GMT -1
I too have a problem with a public footpath, so I know how you are feeling.
The footpath runs next to the river, and over the past twenty years, the river has gradually eroded the path, so that the original path is in the river, and I estimate that at least an acre of land has gone with it. Council moved the path higher up a few years ago ....river has now come within a couple of feet of new path.
Last week I requested a site visit. Council now want to move the path yet again. I said no, as they have ear marked it to run right in front of the field shelter the cows and calves run in, so walkers will be in danger and I do not want any injury claims. Seems I do not have a choice in the matter. It went worse when the man said it would have to come out higher up in the other field too, as people could not be expected to walk on a slight bank Thats right where I wanted my new stable block. Then he looked at the stile, and said I must make it possible for disabled people to get over and he would prefer a gate. I said if it was any smaller the sheep from next door would get through, and a gate could be left open by walkers.
Twice recently my hens and goats have been chased by dogs whose owner have let them off their leads Council man said these problems are few and far between!
So now waiting for another site visit to thrash out what we are all going to do.
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Post by harveydales on Feb 21, 2008 6:15:10 GMT -1
That's madness, Mair! This whole country has gone bonkers!  You can't be forced to replace the styles if they are in good order. If the Council want to put gates in, then they must pay for them and you can choose exactly what style of gate would be safe for your stock. We didn't want any sort of gate that relied on walkers to close and there were designs that would be safe for sheep but we were only concerned with horses and cattle. Blimey, it sounds like we are very lucky with our Council and I was moaning about them! |
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I've herad they are trying to get many footpaths suitable for disabled and wheelchairs which is a total nonsense in situations like ours. Mind you, if we did tarmac the fields I wouldn't have the mud problem. They could be painted green so it looks like grass and I needn't restrict Quest's turnout.
