Bridleways Training Courses

The BHS is holding a level 1 training day (the basic level) on Sat 24 Nov at Stoneleigh. Anyone interested welcome - free to BHS members - As well as the formal sessions, there will be opportunities to chat to those with similar interests. Good set of useful booklets given out at previous sessions. Janice
Courses
Courses

Access and Rights of Way in West Berkshire

Also PLEASE SIGN and DISTRIBUTE THE PETITION ON The Governments Petition Site

BHS West Berks access & bridleways officer: Janice.Bridger@btopenworld.com. 01635 200507

West Berks Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIPs)

This is due for completion by November this year. I have been appointed as the convener to make the local access forum (LAF) response to the plan. We hope the Council has taken on board the numerous suggestions for improvement that were put forward by equestrians both in the document submitted by West Berks riders in 2005 and from the focus group meeting. Let me know if you have any ideas for new bridleways soon.

Recently, the BHS has been asked by Lambourn Parish Council for ideas to improve the riding network in and around Lambourn. Ideas have been sent in our 2005 document but, if anyone out there has a ride which would be improved or made possible by a bit of extra off-road track, let me know & I will put it forward. How these improvements are going to happen on the ground is unclear at present. But one thing is for sure, if we do not get our needs into these plans, we are unlikely to get what we need to have safe riding routes.

Mid and West Berkshire Local Access Forum

The meetings held in 2006 covered topics including speed management on rural roads and use of byways. Members of the public are welcome as observers and the LAF is often calling for new members. All user groups are represented and it is important equestrians are well represented. Minutes of previous meetings can be seen on the West Berks Council website under countryside and environment. Three meetings a year, day-time.

Path claims

East Ilsley: Evidence of use by horse riders is required for a track in East Ilsley which runs parallel to and on the west side of the A34 near to the Oake Bros depot. Please get in touch if you have used it in the last 20years, if you have not done so already. This track has been signed as a bridleway for some time but it is not legally a bridleway. It joins up 2 definitive bridleways, one of which is in danger of becoming a dead-end. We may lose it if it cannot be made legal.

Kintbury: West Berks Council has refused to make a claim for a bridleway in Kintbury that has been used by riders, cyclists and walkers for well over 20 years even though the rights of way officer recommended that a claim should be made. Unfortunately, an appeal cannot be lodged as the original applicant has died. The claim has been in progress for decades! A new application may be being made.

The Stoneleigh Access office continues to improve with the BHS putting more resources into access issues. Current topics include trying to get a better deal for horse-riders on Forestry Commission land in the south; much more support for access officers with specific problems. Anyone who wants to keep up with the issues the BHS are pursuing on behalf of riders who hack out, can subscribe to 'Tracks' by subscription, or by becoming a BHS Access officer for their patch when it is free. See BHS website - search for 'Tracks'. An article in the last copy suggested that we get a many more access officers who know their area well and can liaise with their local authority. Access officers also get a monthly Access Bulletin update. Also, it is worth subscribing to BHS E-news where access issues are included.

Anyone who wants to be added to the West Berks Riders email list should email me. This is used to seek information from riders to help the council & to inform riders about how to help themselves.

Anyone who wants to report a path problem to the Council and get it on the repair/maintenance list should contact kbowman@westberks.gov.uk,

Quiet lanes scheme pilot in Bucklebury The Quiet Lanes Scheme has been in existence nationally for some time now but local councils have been slow to implement it. The scheme aims to encourage shared use of tarmacked lanes by walkers, riders, cyclists and vehicles to provide safe routes. West Berks Council, in collaboration with the parish council, is about to run a pilot in Bucklebury. If you ride in Bucklebury, please let me (Janice.bridger@btopenworld.com) know how you find this, or, even if you don't ride there, let me know what you think about quiet lanes so I can report back to the local access forum. It is important that this scheme is seen to work if more quiet lanes are to be set up.

Fed up of riding the same old routes?

Then why not try out a few of the local rides on the www.bridleways.co.uk site. Just register, then print off the routecards which describe the routes and parking places, contact details etc.

For example:

route 859 in the Beech Hill/Swallowfield area with pub parking;
routes 847 and 848 in Upper Lambourn with parking at Maddle Farm
routes 844, 1047 and 1046 just off M4 Junction 13 near Chieveley with parking (and possibly a hot drink!) at Curridge other routes too!

Plum is the new colour in the countryside - the restricted byway arrives

You may have noticed that some rights of way signs have sprouted plum-coloured arrows with the words 'restricted byway' on them. This designation replaces RUPPs which do not exist anymore. Of relevance to horse-riders is that these routes are only open to the public:

on foot
on horseback or leading a horse
by vehicle other than mechanically propelled vehicles (ie. a pushbike or horse-drawn carriage is allowed but not a motorcycle or other motor vehicle).
there may be a right to drive animals along a restricted byway

In West Berkshire the restricted byway sign is accompanied by another larger sign explaining who can use the route. You may still find legal vehicles on restricted byways, however, as landowners have a right to drive along public rights of way and can give permission to others. But they must not damage the surface unduly. If you have reason to believe that a member of the public is acting illegally then this can be reported the police who have powers to warn drivers and then confiscate vehicles. Contact Janice.bridger@btopenworld.com for a briefing note. This tack has been used successfully on the Ridgeway in West Berks. Much of the Ridgeway is now restricted byway - see http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ridgeway - and a considerable amount of repair work has been done. Good parking for boxes with no height restriction at Bury Down car park above West Ilsley. However, all is not as settled as it might be. Since the recent Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act last year, it is not possible to base a claim for motorised vehicular use on historic horse and cart use. But, any claims that were submitted before 20 Jan 2005 are going to be dealt with under the historic horse and cart rules. In some counties there are hundreds of these claims submitted by the motorised groups such as the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF). Contact your local BHS Access officer and/or your unitary authority rights of way department if you have concerns - you might be sharing your favourite bridleway with more than walkers and cyclists in the future!