Community urged to work together for off-road riding

Two recent examples show that taking the right action can help restore access to important safe places to ride

- ELEANOR JONES

RIDERS are urged to work with the authorities to regain access to off-road routes, as recent cases show the difference this can make.

Gates obstructing a restricted byway in North Yorkshire have been removed, and a broken bridge in Buckinghamshire repaired and reopened, allowing riders access to safe areas again.

The British Horse Society (BHS), with support of the Ramblers, Byways and Bridleways Trust and Open Spaces Society, secured the removal of two pairs of large gates in Stanwick St John.

The route is open to walkers, cyclists, riders and carriage drivers but the gates had been put up without authorisation, "giving the public the clear impression the byway was private", the BHS said.

A spokesperson for the charity told H&H the BHS had been working with local authorities, calling for the gates' removal. After the council agreed the byway was obstructed, Yorkshire magistrates ordered the council to secure their removal by 3 July, which has now been done.

INTIMIDATION

BHS director of access Mark Weston told H&H: "This demonstrates that people must not erect gates across the highway unless they are authorised by the council to do so. Not only do such gates block the public's right of passage, but they are also intimidating and make public paths appear to be privatised.