I’m organising a trailquest in and around the Wyre Forest in December.
I’ve been negotiating with the Forestry Commission to use some of the hard tracks which are not public rights of way.
I’ve just been informed there will be a £50 administration fee for their cooperation, so I am now going to alter the position of a couple of control points to keep them entirely on bridleways.
Sustrans Route 45 runs through the forest and I wanted to use it as a route on the event.
It’s not a public right of way, presumably it is a permissive right of way for cycles, I don’t know the exact legal status.
The forestry Commission have no say over what we do on a bridleway through the forest, any more than a farmer does on a bridleway across their land.
What about a permissive route though ?
Anyone can ride along a Sustrans route, but can I organise an event using one without the land owners permission ?
I’m not trying to get in to a legal argument with them.
I’ve been asked to stay out of one area and I will alter the control point position to suit their request, even though there’s a bridleway through there.
I would prefer to stay on good terms with them, I just want to know the legal situation before I discuss altering the route.