Bridleway Report 2008
By Angela Williams
The County Council is very supportive in its role to open up the network to provide access in Shropshire. The following is a summary of the achievements gained for the ridden and driven horse during the last year.
Parish Access Project
Launched in April 2004 this is a 5 year programme to restore access in selected parishes. Seventy two parishes have now been completed,17 being restored during the last year in North Shropshire,Bridgnorth and South Shropshire. A total of 1571 km have been delivered.
This work is most welcome and users of the network benefit greatly. However where riders are using footpaths, kissing gates and stiles when erected in project areas will prevent future use. If there has been 20 year user (preferably with some historical evidence) these routes should be claimed.
Opening up of the network will also highlight anomalies such as dead ends ie bridleways becoming footpaths.
New Bridleways Added to the Definitive Map
The following routes are now Definitive Bridleways.
From Darville to the Ditherington Road Shrewsbury
The Dean to Caughley Road, Parish of Barrow
Two bridleway additions and 4 footpath upgrades now provide a through route from Restricted Byway 16 near Buildwas Bridge past the rear of the Ironbridge Power Station through Pool View Caravan Park to the County Road just south of Benthall Hall.
This forms an important link for the proposed Bishop Bennet Way to join the Jack Mytton Way.
Footpath 152 Parishes of Barrow and Broseley has been upgraded to a bridleway. Known as Fiery Fields this leads from Lodge Lane to the Bridgnorth Road in Broseley.
Creation Agreements have been made to produce the following Definitive Bridleways.
In the Parish of Sutton Maddock a Bridleway creation agreement over Sutton Common will provide an off road link for the Sabrina Way.
Pound Lane to the Round House (on the Caughley Road) Parish of Broseley.
From Caughley Road to the railway barrier on the Severn Way
Footpath upgrade to BW from the B4375 past site marked Opencast Workings to Barrow Lodge on the B4376
White road to BW status linking the B4373 to the B4376 past Willey Furnace Cottages.
Bridleway Maintenance
Some bridleways have been included in the Capital Programme of Improvement Works requiring specialist equipment and contract work. The following received such attention:
BW 30 Wheathill– Surfacing and drainage
BW 16 Wheathill - Repair to ford and other drainage and surfacing
BW 181 Barrow - Ditching and drainage works
BW 89A Pontesbury—Drainage works
BW 6R—Stone for surfacing
BW 2 Alveley - Emergency stone to track during flooding
BW 65A Kinlet - Large bridge
BW 87 Church Stretton—Regrading of ford
BOAT 59 Minsterley—Stone for repairs
Discovering Lost Ways
The Discovering Lost Ways Project has withdrawn from active archive research. The Countryside Access Team hope progress can be made with the research already carried out in Shropshire.
Formal Applications made in the Last Year
To upgrade FP65 and NU1 to bridleway Parish of Barrow
FP79/80 upgrade to bridleway from end of BW78 north east to the Folly Parish of Worfield.
Footpath upgrades and bridleway additions in Easthope and Shipton Parishes.
FP 95 upgrade to bridleway Ackleton to Badger
To add a bridleway past Winnington Cottage in the Parish of Westbury.
Order Decisions
Cow Lane Great Ness. Having confirmed as a bridleway with modifications to the order in September 2007 the Inspector did not confirm the order after a second inquiry held on 15th May 2008. This was due to new evidence of a 1 metre high stock proof fence.
BW3 (Part) Parish of Westbury. The proposed diverted section of this bridleway has been confirmed.
BOAT proposal past Vyrnwy Bank Melverley after a hearing was declared a Restricted Byway.
Wind farms
A planning application has been made for 7 wind turbines 110 metres high at Lower Farm Bearstone, Market Drayton. Two of the proposed turbines are within the recommended distance of 200 metres from a restricted byway. A letter of objection was sent on behalf of the British horse Society.
Shropshire will no doubt see further wind farm applications in the future.
Telford and Wrekin
Telford and Wrekin Bridleway Group is currently conducting a petition of bridleway users to provide evidence of the need for improved bridleway access in the area. Much ongoing work concerns bridleway access across the borough temporarily lost due to major building works, some of which risk not being re-establish
Local changes of personnel in Telford and Wrekin have enhanced the resources available for reviewing and developing bridleway access and new circuits. This is to be welcomed as substantial improvements are needed
Efforts are currently being made by T&WC to establish a Local Users' Access Forum. although this is unlikely to be in place much before Christmas due to a lack of interest on the part of local landowners who must be represented before the Forum can be convened.
The future use of and access to the Wrekin is also under review by a separate body composed of the many user interest groups, landowners and local funding bodies and led by a Development Officer. Horse riding is not well-represented in the official reports from this body as yet, although useful discussions have taken place.
Useful Web Sites
For the Countryside Access Team Annual Report 2007– 2008 http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/countryside.nsf click on annual-report-2007-08.pdf
Shropshire permissive bridleway routes http://countrywalks.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx
For Shropshire Riding routes http:www..shropshireriding.co.uk For the Jack Mytton Way double click the Featured Route “Jack Mytton” For the ride Shropshire routes - in Quick Route Search enter “Ride Shropshire”
Angela Williams - Shropshire Bridleway Representative - Tel 01691 622523
Email seven-sisters@tiscali.co.uk
Marilyn Pietroni - Telford and Wrekin Bridleway Representative - Tel 01952 501933
Email marilyn.pietroni@wanadoo.fr
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