Only 5% overtly against the idea. But where are we at with the Trails For Wales campaign?
Having moved from Yorkshire to the Welsh Boarders it surprised me how little access there is to the land
Less footpaths etc?
I've always had the thought that the enlgish/welsh model of access works well for densely populated area, less so away and the opposite for the scottish model
mmm... I always go back to a Football365 trope about headlines, "if the exact opposite would make a better headline, what's the point of the story?". Like yeah, when presented with "do you want more/ less access to the countryside", who's going to say "actually, I want less access to the countryside". Coupled with mentions of YouGov and More in Common, the whole thing smacks of a lightweight publicity campaign that doesn't stand up.
That said, I'm very interested to read about this issue. A much better approach by Cycling UK would be to present people with a choice "would you like more access to the countryside if [insert tradeoff]". That then provides results that are actually meaningful and actionable.
The Scottish model also works around Edinburgh, Glasgow and other towns and cities. It's not exclusive to the less populated areas. I can't therefore see a reason why it wouldn't work in Wales and/or England. However, as I've commented previously, I think the increased number/power of ebikes might mean that the horse has already bolted when it comes to increased access rights in W&E.
So 67% want better access and 5% own it (or are directly employed by those that do as IIRC slightly under 1% do the actual owning)?
The Scottish model also works around Edinburgh, Glasgow and other towns and cities. It's not exclusive to the less populated areas. I can't therefore see a reason why it wouldn't work in Wales and/or England. However, as I've commented previously, I think the increased number/power of ebikes might mean that the horse has already bolted when it comes to increased access rights in W&E.
100%. An adapted version of the Scottish model could work. The only reason it won’t happen is opposition from property owners. If it was to happen, it would need investment into information provision, education and enforcement… but we badly need that already.
Less footpaths etc?
Footpaths either blocked purposely by landowners or just completely impossible to get down due to been so overgrown/ fallen trees etc (very little use). They also have styles every friggin 100 metres or so it feels
Useable BW’s are almost none existent.
For ref. I used to do a lot in Surrey on foot and bike, and live in Norway. When I moved to Norway I was surprised by how few paths there were, but it's a big place with a few people so that access model falls over a bit. When I look back at Surrey I realise how well the system of footpaths works and guaranteed access worked, but a Norsk model would mean a lot less access as a lot of the right to roam is proviso'd for farmland, grazing, gardens etc.
Having moved from Yorkshire to the Welsh Boarders it surprised me how little access there is to the land
It was really dependent on the local councils when the various access laws were passed.
When I lived in Essex we had plenty of footpaths but not much else. In Herts there is a reasonable mix of footpaths and bridleways but some suspiciously empty areas where some influential people lived.
There are then all those areas where once you cross a parish/county line a footpath becomes a bridleway and vice versa which makes absolutely no sense if it was based on historical usage. There might be some special cases where the use of horses stopped at a village but people walked on for a bit but when I am in the middle of a field it really doesnt.
The Ridgeway is a good example. I am not overly convinced that in the past people stopped once they hit a certain area and abandoned/carried their horses.
I am not overly convinced that in the past people stopped once they hit a certain area and abandoned/carried their horses.
The way definitive rights of way were mapped after the 1947 town and country planning act was by civil parish wasn't it? 🤔 I think that's why these discrepancies exist, or sometimes a path on the map just stops in the middle of nowhere?
There are then all those areas where once you cross a parish/county line a footpath becomes a bridleway and vice versa which makes absolutely no sense if it was based on historical usage
And in the Welsh Boarders we have a similar but different issue
The area is littered with no longer used riding stables. It used to be so quiet here the horsey people used to just ride on the roads/dirt tracks so there was never any need for Bridleways
In the last 50 yrs or so most have shut as there is no where safe left to ride your horse.
Its well known locally at JFK used to ride around the local lanes, stop at the local pub before heading back to the manor house
What I don’t understand is why proper wales / snowdonia has very few decent BWs
So the group who are least in favour are the over 65s.... "We aren't using the countryside as much so neither should you"
%of the population who actually own the land is a terrifyingly small number which I think is the major issue
