By Jill Stocks
An application to change a well-used and historic Horsforth footpath to a bridleway has been met with concern by a town councillor.
The British Horse Society has submitted a Definitive Map Moderation Order (DMMO) to upgrade the footpath on the junction of Lee Lane East, St Margaret’s Road and Westbrook Lane, known locally as the Roman Road, to a bridleway.
A previous application was also submitted recently, and withdrawn following objections, and included suggested widening and resurfacing by way of improvement to the footpath. The current application is a change of legal status only and has no such adaptations.
Cllr Alan Radford (Labour, Woodside Ward), in a statement for the Town Council’s consideration, said that while there were no physical adjustments in this latest application the resultant increase in equestrian traffic on the route may present its own issues, and that the proposal was “a threat to our historic environment”.
Cllr Radford said: “It is reasonable to assume that the proposed redesignation would attract increased equestrian use. This increased use would lead to the need for the types of change for which the last application was rejected and seriously alter a significant piece of Horsforth’s history in a specified Conservation Area in our Neighbourhood Plan.
“The two main points which I have personally raised with LCC Public Rights of Way are:
“1. Although the section of the path up the hillside is used by the occasional equestrian, in places it is not wide enough for a pedestrian and an equestrian to pass. At present in the occasional such encounter users manage this with courtesy. However, any significant increase in equestrian use, encouraged by the re-classification, would exacerbate this problem.
“2. The usable surface of the path up the hillside is part flagstones and part earth. In winter the earth turns to deep mud, and this is made worse by horses’ hooves. After heavy rain or run-off from snow melt the path becomes a stream, and this significantly erodes the softened earth. Any significant increase in equestrian use would exacerbate the rate of soil erosion from the path.”
The British Horse Society, who have applied for the change of status, is the largest equestrian charity in the UK.
Will Steel, Head of Access at BHS, said: “Accessible off-road routes are extremely important when it comes to improving equestrian safety. At BHS, we are committed to supporting the UK’s access network and it’s our priority to make sure routes and bridleways are accessible and safe for all.
“Last year alone, BHS recorded 59 horses tragically losing their lives on UK’s roads. Due to ever increasing and faster moving traffic, it’s never been more important to identify unrecorded bridleways and byways and work on improving off-road access, so that riders and carriage drivers can spend less time on the roads.
“The application was made for a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) to record the way as a bridleway, due to strong evidence that Lee Lane was an historic off-road route.
“If the application is confirmed, we are not aware of the need for any substantial works to the route that would significantly change its character, and will work closely with the Council to ensure this.”
After discussion at the full council meeting last week Horsforth Town Council agreed with the stance taken by Cllr Radford and agreed to object to the redesignation of the footpath.
A spokesperson for the Town Council said: “Horsforth Town Council considered the application to upgrade Footpath Horsforth 51 on Lee Lane from a public footpath to a bridleway and resolved to object to the proposed modification order.
“The council’s concerns relate to the potential impact that a change in legal status could have on the character, condition and accessibility of this historic route within a designated Conservation Area identified in the Horsforth Neighbourhood Plan.
“The council noted concerns that the path is narrow in places, making it difficult for pedestrians and horse riders to pass safely, and that increased equestrian use could lead to further wear, erosion and deterioration of the path surface, particularly during wet weather.
“Councillors also recognised concerns that reclassification could create pressure for future widening or resurfacing works, which may adversely affect the historic character of this important local route.
“The council therefore concluded that there were sufficient grounds to support an objection to the application.”
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What Cllr Radford seems to thinking a reasonable assumption is nonsense. This pathway has been used by riders for many years as a safe route, it is only used by local riders and given the huge financial pressures on livery yards, they are decreasing not increasing. In recent years we have had Moss House and Owlett Farm close on Scotland Lane.
Equestrian traffic will remain consistent and will ensure a safe connecting route continues to be open to all users.
I find the objections to upgrading Lee Lane East/Footpath Horsforth 51 to a bridleway difficult to understand, particularly when the current application is simply to recognise the route’s legal status and does not propose altering the path.
The suggestion that upgrading the route will inevitably result in significantly increased equestrian use, followed by pressure to widen or resurface it, is speculative. The application being considered is for a change of legal status, not a proposal to redesign the route.
Horse riders already use the route. Giving it bridleway status would provide a legally recognised off-road route for equestrians and potentially help reduce the need for horses and riders to use roads, which are becoming increasingly busy.
The concerns about pedestrians and horses meeting on a narrow section also need to be considered in context. Horses and pedestrians already share many public rights of way throughout the country. Responsible riders slow down, dismount where appropriate and give pedestrians priority. There is no reason to assume that a change in status would remove the courtesy and consideration that currently allows different users to share the route.
Likewise, the suggestion that horses will inevitably cause unacceptable erosion needs to be supported by evidence rather than assumption. If there are genuine concerns about the condition of the path, those issues should be assessed objectively and managed appropriately, rather than being used as a reason to prevent a legal right of way from being correctly recorded.
Most importantly, a DMMO is not a planning application to change the physical appearance of the route.
It is also worth remembering that riders are vulnerable road users. Providing legitimate off-road routes is an important part of improving safety for both horses and riders, while also potentially reducing interaction between horses and increasingly busy traffic.
The historic character of the route should absolutely be respected. But recognising an existing historic right of way does not automatically mean destroying or altering that character.
Pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and other users should be able to enjoy our public rights of way together. The answer to concerns about maintenance, erosion or accessibility should be sensible management based on evidence — not assumptions about what might happen.
The reality is that all the horse riders who are going to use the path already use it, and just because it’s redesignated as a bridleway will not mean more riders will use it, simply because there are only a few stables in the area whose riders can access the path and there are definitely no plans for any more stables, therefore there will be no extra riders using the path.
It’s not as if people from other areas will load their horses onto boxes so they can travel to the path to ride down it if it becomes a bridleway – the area simply doesn’t have enough decent rides to warrant that being done by anybody!
It being made a bridleway will simply make it official that horse riders can use the path, it will definitely not attract more riders, because there just aren’t more riders who are in a position to use it.
The roads are becoming increasingly dangerous for horses and their riders, and any moves to introduce more bridleways should be applauded rather than objected to.
Lisa Walker
“increased equestrian use” – it’s currently (and has been for MANY years) only used by local riders of which there is a finite amount. No one external is going to specifically travel to either end to use it.
Never mind the fact it was originally BUILT FOR HORSES – if taking the viewpoint of preserving its historical value into consideration
Increased traffic on the roads and urban sprawl in general continue to eliminate safe places for horse owners to ride. This is a vital connective route for many local equestrians.
The surface would require suitable maintanance and resurfacing when necessary regardless of if its a bridleway or footpath.
I am surprised it has at some point seemingly been made into a footpath at all given years of use by riders.
As a family we value the Roman Road as an important part of Horsforth’s history. It should be used by everyone including horses and riders in a respectful caring manner. Just please do not change the road in anyway, it only needs appropriate maintenance so everyone can continue to enjoy using.