Government to decide on bridleway dispute

The government is to have the final say in a dispute between walkers and horse-riders over whether a footpath should be recognised as a bridleway.

A request to upgrade a right of way connecting Northdene Drive with Bury Road, in Bamford, has gone forward to a formal ‘objection period’, following approval from Rochdale Township Committee councillors.

They were told authority had received evidence of riders using the route for more than 20 years – and that refusing to progress the application would be a breach of the council’s statutory duty.

Rochdale and Bury Bridleway Association (RBBA) say that recognising the route as a bridleway would save lives, as riders would no longer have to travel along Bury Road to get to the bridleways by the River Roch.

If unopposed, the request would automatically pass under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

But where there are objections the final decision lies with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Michael Gove MP.

Before the vote, resident Trevor Mayne spoke passionately against the bridleway being included on the borough’s definitive map and statement.

He said: “The only claim the RBBA has to this footpath is it they have been trespassing on it for 20 years.

“They quote the Wildlife and Country Act to justify this, yet an act that was meant to give horses access across fields of the country is now being used to justify use a too narrow footpath in the middle of a residential estate.

“It is too long, too narrow and too enclosed with no room to pass. Even the British Horse Society states that with horses on the path, no one else can get safely past.”

Mr Mayne added that allowing the route to be recognised as a footpath would be ‘to the detriment of all other users including local residents and school children – who call it Horse Poo Lane – as well as the old and infirm.”

And he urged the RBBA not to pursue the application.

He said: “The RBBA don’t need it, they just want it. They could enhance their public image by noting residents’ feelings about this plan and withdrawing this application.”

But, in a statement issued after the meeting, a spokesperson for RBBA said the proposal was concerned with safety for riders and Mr Mayne was refusing to face facts.

They said: “This is all about saving lives as the objector knows, as we have discussed this with him and given him the statistics, but he chooses to ignore it. It is becoming increasingly dangerous to ride a horse on the roads as most motorists do not know how to safely pass a horse on a public road.

“The police advise passing a car’s width away and at 15mph, wide and slow. 

“British Horse Society statistics say that in the past year 404 road incidents have been reported to the BHS.

“Of these, one carriage driver has been killed and 94 riders injured. Eight horses have died and 74 have been injured. The bridleway network in Rochdale is fragmented meaning roads have to be used for riders to gain access to bridleways and byways.

“Any route which means riders don’t have to use the roads may mean a life saved, maybe the life of a child. There are a lot of children who ride in the Bamford area and our aim is to keep them safe.”

The RBBA says riders and pedestrians rarely meet along the path, which – contrary to a claim by Mr Mayne – they state is wide enough to turn a horse around.

The spokesperson added: “There seems to be a common belief that the change in status of the path would mean there would be a sudden increase in the number of horses using it. Nothing will change.”

Rochdale Council will now issue an order to upgrade the footpath, but as at least one objection is almost inevitable, the final decision will lie with the Secretary of State.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter