Borrowdale Bash Needs Your Help

Deadline 13th May 2010
Please Click here print out, fill in, and then post to:
Rights of Way Team, Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA11 7RL

Why? Read on

You may or may not know that part of the legendary Borrowdale Bash mountain bike route is currently designated as a footpath. The footpath is part of the ‘Catbells Bridleway’. The 190m long footpath section of the ‘Catbells Bridleway’ starts at the public road at Manesty, continues through the gate and ends at a point where the footpath meets the parish boundary. After this point the track is designated as a bridleway.

This designation appears to be a historical anomaly. One parish designated the track a footpath, the other parish designated the same track a bridleway. In October 2008 the Lake District National Park Authority made a Modification Order to amend the status of the short section of footpath to a bridleway. A single objection was received and the Inspectors decision was not to go ahead with the Modification Order.

So, the LDNPA wanted the footpath upgraded to bridleway – and they had a strong case – but a single objection got in the way. This means that cycle usage of the footpath will continue to be trespass against the landowners.

Now the LDNPA are trying a different method. They are trying for a ‘Creation Order’ for a bridleway over the footpath, and they need all the help that they can get. Given that their previous reasonable request was turned down following a single objection, they need as much evidence as possible to prove that:

1. there is a need for the path to be a bridleway

2. it will be more convenient and enjoyable for most of the people living locally and other members of the public for the section to be a bridleway

For this to happen it is important that as many people as possible download,  print out, fill in and then post the linked form to: Rights of Way Team, Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA11 7RL. The deadline for the LDNPA to receive the form is is 13th May 2010.

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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