[Closed] Ultimate ownership for bridleway clearance

so have all of ours... it's summer, what on earth else would you exepct ?

"so have all of ours... it's summer, what on earth else would you exepct ?" - I think you are missing the point of my post. Maybe reread it and then contribute a more constructive response

Ride them more - our group of 30 smashed the nettles and brambles into submission pretty quick last night lol

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don't like it? fix it. it's what happens round here. 😉

I would love to see a legislation change so that total responsibility for clearance sits with the land owner. If they don't keep it clear they get fined. Surely, this sits perfectly with David Cameron's 'Big Society' initiative of giving something back to the community.

Do some clearing yourself. Can't expect the council to do everything for you if they are skint. The landowner may skint also or be busy doing other things. Give something back yourself, join Cameron's big society start pruning away.

Just ride on footpaths until they sort the bridleways.

Yup regular use will wear them down, I guess that trail isn't used too much or maybe contact the landowner see what they say. Even better organise a local group to clear it with the councils and landowners backing. At times of low funding it's a very low priority for councils for them, even more so if your maybe the only one who's complained.

Clearer bridleways won't encourage people to exercise more either way.

@Del - Was thinking that exact same thing. How much can you clear with a brush cutter. Most of the trails down here are just long bridleways that I guess would take an age to clear with a brush cutter.

I did contact the council a few years back about volunteering to help with bridleway clearance. Health & Safety issues though seemed to get in the way when it came to being able to use the required equipment. Giving someone a pair of shears or a strimmer and asking them to clear a mile section seems pointless when a tractor could top it in a much quicker time

A tractor could, if it's accessible and doesn't have any hidden branches.
You can do about 2 mile/hr with a decent brush cutter if you get going. It wouldn't take long.

I am, however, going to stick my head up above the parapet here, and say I think most land owners are friggin lazy. Happy to take farm subsidies, but give zero back in return.

There is one land owner down this way who always keeps the bridleways and paths across his/her land really tidy and cut. The neighbouring farmer, however, does nothing. And I can assure you, it's not because their skint

I don't really understand why you think shifting an existing statutory duty from the council to the landowner would be beneficial?

There is an established legal process (s56 highways act 1980) whereby you can force the council to do the job that they are supposed to be doing

It may be a wild concept, but Instead of asking for a change in the law, why not use the law that is already there?

problem solved;

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I am, however, going to stick my head up above the parapet here, and say I think most land owners are friggin lazy. Happy to take farm subsidies, but give zero back in return.

I mow the verge next to the footpath that runs across my land. I also take great delight in riding up and down the same footpath when I see a group of ramblers heading our way. 🙂

I am, however, going to stick my head up above the parapet here, and say I think most land owners are friggin lazy. Happy to take farm subsidies, but give zero back in return.

Landowners or farmers? My Uncle is a farmer and my grandfather a retired farmer, neither are or were lazy. They worked 7 day a week 365 days a year, my mother had to feed the sheep on the morning of her wedding so they could get the time off to go.

This year the undergrowth has gone nuts, the wet winter and then sunny spring/summer has produced what must be optimum growing conditions.

Trying to keep on top of that for rights of way would be a never ending task IMO.

I don't know, the government say they want people to have less personal debt and yet won't even build me a yacht to sail to the bank in. Crazy.

Most of the trails down here are just long bridleways that I guess would take an age to clear with a brush cutter.

Many hands make light work though. Just once, instead of riding with your mates, go and clear a trail. You'll be surprised how quick it is with more people.

Bit of advice though: clear them in spring/early summer before they grow too much.

When you work 7 days per week, longer hours than most for less return in all weathers then I Reckon you might stand a chance with that remark...

Bit of a generalisation there.

Absolutely fair point about farmers, I don't think anyone can doubt their hard work. But not all landowners are farmers either. I think we have to be realistic that clearing trails is a very low priority for councils and landowners (in some cases understadably so), so it comes down to a mix of patience and positive action beyond legal requirements. It's such a comparatively small issue that any kind of legal requirement or enforcement isn't going to work. Going out with some clippers to get rid of the worst growth is prob a good idea and nobody will mind. I've had plenty of cuts and stings this year because of the over-growth everywhere, but I don't really begrudge the council or landowner, annoying though it is.

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Overgrown verges can be a huge road hazzard by restricting view. So IMO they should have priority over footpaths and bridleways.

Also the lack of maintenance can actually be good for biodiversity.
http://www.chilternrangers.co.uk/to-mow-or-not-to-mow/

When you work 7 days per week, longer hours than most for less return in all weathers then I Reckon you might stand a chance with that remark...

That must be why the local farmers/land owners around these parts brand new Ranger Rovers are so shiny clean - they simply don't have time to drive them the poor lambs 😉

in any case, you could always tap up the local ROW officer at the council, who can also bother the highways on your behalf.

me an a mate did one near us that's about 2km in an evening. him with a brush cutter and me with secateurs. i try and do bits and bobs if i take the dog out for a walk to the local hills, and i've cleared two other bits of trail each with different friends over the space of a couple of hours each time, but i'm afraid my motivation is running pretty low at the mo. 🙁

I'm considering going out with a machete to clear my local bridleway - head high nettles wafting in your face when you run is no fun. So, if you hear a story of an aged singlet wearing crazy brandishing a machete being arrested on the south downs, you'll know why.

My wife likes to walk to work in the summer. It is a couple of miles or so to the next village.

About half way along is a path to get you to the top of a flyover (which has no pathways). It stopped being cleared a few years ago and the brambles and nettles too over. The tarmac path was invaded by moss and as it is in perma shade, is like a slippery carpet.

We contacted everyone we could think of in the council and witnessed a monumental example of buck passing, all the way down the line to the contractor who maintains the A14! They contacted us to say they ad diaried clearance for late October and until then we would sadly have to put up with it.

Cue a family Sunday outing to the footpath. Armed with garden implements we cut and hacked our way along the path, cleared a way through and then worked our way back cutting (more) well back from the edges.

The contractor never carried through with the 'comprehensive clearing programme' and the council just aren't interested. As a client of mine explained (he used to be a Big Cheese in the local council) there just isn't the money and like it or not, so few people actually walk anywhere any more, path clearance isn't a priority.

DIY seems to be order of the day then.

My mother is a countryside volunteer, wildlife trust member, NT volunteer and local walking group member. Always has a pair of pruning shears in her rucksack (provided by Kirklees council).

one man's overgrown bridleway is another man's (bug's, bird's, small animal's) nature reserve. Buy some shin pads or long socks, man up and ride it anyway...

All the farmers I know look at me funny when I say I am going out for a bike ride as they have neither the time or energy to do so during busy periods. Come the quiet periods they are sorting other farm stuff our or trying to get some rest and see to other aspects of life.

It is frustrating though. One of local bridleways is now hard to walk along let alone ride a bike or horse.

What would be a good idea is if the funds given to a land owner to tend to the footpaths and bridleways can be diverted to pay for equipment for local groups who use them for recreation to do a bit. This could be organised by the parish council. The landowner/farmer is given first refusal on doing the work themselves but if they cannot then some or all of the money that is intended for that is given to the parish council to fund the work somehow. Preferably through volunteers as there won't be the fund to get someone to do it commercially and they probably won't do it properly if they are not familiar with the area and the paths.

Interestingly, I mailed my local council earlier today, half expecting to never get a reply. 20 minutes later I get a comprehensive and informative mail detailing how they're aware of the problem I reported (watercourse being redirected down a BW after the storms 18 months ago) and are in contact with the landowners already about a fix and to expect some action soon!

On the other hand, I did purchase a machete kinda thing and a folding saw from B&Q last weekend with the aim of clearing some slightly less legit trails in my local woods (and clearing the way for some new ones!).

Perhaps it's up to us all to keep rights of way clear. If we each did a metre or two when out riding then things would be a bit better. It does depend on how many people use a particular path though - if there's just one person a week going along it then it's going to get overgrown no matter what.

Might be interesting justifying carrying a scythe to the local plod! 🙂

I had wondered about one of those pressurised weed killer backpacks with the nozzle fixed to emit a killer spray behind you !

[quote=convert ]I had wondered about one of those pressurised weed killer backpacks with the nozzle fixed to emit a killer spray behind you !

I've been out with a normal spray bottle of weed killer to get rid of the nettles on local footpaths before. Worked a treat, and kept them down for far longer than cutting would.

One of the bonuses of riding military land wait for them to drive a armoured vehicle through undergrowth no more nettles,brambles etc plus instantly changed trail(ruts etc) just have to avoid running into them when parked up covered in camo netting 😀