Recent News
Illegal Obstruction Every Two Miles!
Walkers in West Riding Area can expect to find an illegal obstruction every two miles if they use the whole rights of way network and don't just use the popular paths. In fact it is worse than this, an illegal obstruction on average every 1.8 miles. This is the preliminary finding of the West Riding Area footpaths survey which has been carried out over summer and early autumn 2011. If we add to this finding all the other problems which, although not illegal, make a path less than easy to use, then it gets even worse!
There is information so far on over three hundred square kilometres (i.e. over three hundred squares from the local OS Explorer maps) across five local authorities: Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and North Yorkshire (it is hoped to extend the survey to Wakefield in coming years). It is not yet possible to give figures for individual local authorities, and this will be reported on when the information is analysed further. But the general message is clear. The footpath network in West Riding Area is not in good condition. The survey focussed on squares that were predominantly countryside (i.e. areas that are not substantially built up). Included in the survey were all public footpaths, bridle ways, and other routes with public access (the “green blob” paths on the Explorer maps). There are still some survey results to come in, and these may change the overall picture slightly, but it is unlikely to be to a significant extent.
More than sixty footpath surveyors offered to carry out the survey. They were asked to record every sort of obstruction: vegetation; rubbish, manure, buildings; ploughing and cropping; locked gates, no stile or gate over field boundary; dangerous stiles; unsafe or missing bridges; locked gates; illegal bulls; intimidating dogs. The footpath surveyors were required to take a stringent interpretation of obstructions: the criterion for obstruction by vegetation was “… the path impossible to use, or impossible to use without a walker getting badly scratched or badly stung”, and the basic test for a dangerous stile was “in such a condition that a walker can only negotiate it with extreme difficulty to avoid injury.” The conscientious and detailed way in which the footpath surveyors carried out their work and reported on the problems they found has been impressive. And dare one say it? - they seem to have enjoyed it. Many thanks to all of them.
All the information from the survey is being meticulously recorded and analysed by Tony Ottery who has provided the preliminary results. Many thanks are due to him. It is hoped to include a detailed report of the survey in the next West Riding Rambler
Amongst the footpath surveyors' comments giving a flavour to the survey are: “Completely overgrown with scrub and impassable”; [stile] “Broken and unsafe, exposed nails; loose barbed wire adjacent; displaced step; step broken half through”; “blocked by barbed wire fence”; “prevented from entering by large dog ….would not allow me to untether the second gate”; “barbed wire fence – no stile/gate”; “field with oilseed rape crop; diagonal path totally overgrown”
I walked the paths on my four squares on a couple of warm afternoons in early October, plus a short mopping-up walk on a wet morning. The squares were just to the south of Harrogate, a fairly dense network of paths in an undulating pastoral landscape which included some suburbia. Out of a total mileage of six and a half miles of rights of way, there was one place where the path was not legally compliant, an enclosed path with serious and prolonged obstruction by nettles, brambles, and overhanging branches beside the playing fields of a school. I had serious difficulty in getting through and came away with scratches. Elsewhere in my squares, there were a couple of places with no sign where a path left a road. Signing was generally good, however, though in some instances it was becoming obscured by vegetation. Not so good were many of the stiles. They were not bad enough to be described as dangerous, but they soon will be unless attended to. There are several enclosed paths and these are beginning to get overgrown in places, in one place by a vigorous growth of ivy. Also of concern were many of the waymarks: some faded, some missing, some broken (presumably deliberately).
Keighley Group (see separate report) has carried out a separate survey of all of its paths, a brilliant piece of work, a total of 267 miles, and found that only 97 miles are problem free. The Keighley data will be integrated with the overall West Riding findings.
Despite the alarming preliminary findings of the West Riding survey, there is some dispute about the condition of the paths in England. Some walkers regard the path network as being in good condition. So it may be in some local authorities, though it is flatly contradicted by the information obtained in the West Riding survey which was across five authorities. It may also be a matter of which paths are walked. If the walking is on popular paths these are the ones that are likely to be obstruction free. Led/organised walks are unlikely to encounter obstructions simply because the walks leaders usually do their best to avoid them (you don't want to lead a group of people down a difficult path – that's an important reason for doing “walk-outs”). Walks books too will tend to avoid serious trouble for their readers. One of the consequences of this is that the problem paths (which are often just as attractive) are neglected by walkers and local authorities alike. Recently, the Mystery Walker survey, which included local authorities throughout England, reported an English footpath network “in excellent health” (see “Walk” Autumn 2011). However, this survey is arguably seriously flawed because the mystery walkers were invited to choose a route to “reflect the type of walk you normally go on”. By contrast, the West Riding survey, which is based on its footpath surveyors walking every right of way in the kilometre squares, is likely to present a much more realistic picture of the true state of the paths.
What is to be done about the situation? First, there is a strong case for much more campaigning at Group, Area and national level. An organisation whose first charitable object is “The provision and protection of footpaths and other ways over which the public have a right of access on foot, including the prevention of obstruction of public rights” just cannot stand idly by when there is such a shocking catalogue of obstructions. I have recently raised the issue at national level with the Board of Trustees. The second thing to be said is that reporting path obstructions to the Rights of Way section of a local authority does appear to achieve some success. This has already happened in Keighley with several of the problems reported, and the overgrown vegetation that I found when I did my squares has been cleared after I reported it. However, if there is a difficult problem on a less than well used path, the local authority may well put it in the low priority bin, so some patience and persistence may be required. Thirdly, there may be a case for taking legal action against obstructions, and the Ramblers has a substantial legal fund. However, legal action is costly and time-consuming for all involved, and at most it would only be possible to bring one or two specimen cases – but it is not to be ruled out! Fourthly, there is the practical work that could be carried out by the Ramblers. It is a ludicrous situation when for our practical footpath working parties have no work when there is patently so much to be done, and local authority resources are so much stretched because of the “cuts”. Practical footpath working parties can easily deal with the more straightforward obstructions such as clearing vegetation and repairing stiles, and it is unacceptable that so little use is made of such an obvious resource.
The comments made in this article are not intended as a criticism of the footpath officers who work for local authority Rights of Way sections. It is recognised that they are operating on diminished resources, often with fewer staff, and often have no choice but to prioritise. We have friendly and constructive relations with them, and hope these will continue. This said, we are a charity committed to the protection of paths, and local authorities are knowingly breaking the law (since when has shortage of money been accepted as a reason for breaking the law?!)
We would like the West Riding Area Footpath Survey to continue for at least the next few years. We would still welcome more footpath surveyors. There are a few squares left in most areas. However, we would particularly like to survey Wakefield, and it would also be valuable to cover many more North Yorkshire squares, especially in the Nidderdale AONB, and Craven. Offers welcome – it's valuable work, and those who have taken part seem to have found it enjoyable. It's not massively time-consuming: my four squares took two afternoons and an extra hour or two
Burley Bridge May Be a Suspension Bridge
The proposed bridge over the River Wharfe at Burley is still a long way from happening, but encouraging developments are taking place. Until recently, the plans had been for an all-user bridleway bridge, as it had been indicated that this way forward would be likely to gain more local authority support. However, many people both in Burley in Wharfedale and in the Niddderdale AONB thought that the suggested bridleway bridge was too large for the rural ambience of the site. Furthermore, there was little support for a bridleway bridge from Sustrans or the cycling community, and amongst the various horse-riding groups there was either opposition or lukewarm support, plus a strong reluctance to abandoning the adjacent ford.
The present intention therefore is to prepare plans for a footbridge for walkers, and this way forward has the full support of the Ramblers’ Association West Riding Area. The Burley Bridge Association (on which West Riding Area is represented) has taken the initiative and commissioned Ramboll UK, a national company, to draw up plans. The proposed footbridge is now likely to be a simple suspension bridge. There has been some discussion about the precise position of the bridge at the Greenholme site, and the Ramblers’ Association is urging that it is placed actually on the line of the stepping stones i.e. on the existing right of way.
The present proposal is a much “lighter” bridge, and this should do much to allay the fears of those who opposed the previous design. Footpaths already cross the River Wharfe on suspension bridges at nearby Addingham, and Hebden (the latter in the national park).
It is becoming increasingly clear, that if there is eventually to be a bridge over the River Wharfe then the impetus will have to come from the residents of Burley-in-Wharfedale, and there will have to be enough people to want it enough, and ready to be involved in a strong local campaign As an instructive comparison, it is patently clear that the big push for the replacement bridge at Ridge Mill near Cowling (see separate article) came from the local community.
A bridge across the River Wharfe will give residents of Burley easy access to the Nidderdale AONB which is just across the river, and it will virtually double the local footpath network.
Local members of the Ramblers’ Association are not in such strong support as when a decade ago over two thousand gave their names to a petition. Nonetheless the Area Council (formerly Executive Committee) of the West Riding Area continues to give strong backing to a bridge at Burley. There are excellent transport links from Leeds and Bradford to Burley, and there is no doubt at all that if a footbridge over the Wharfe were built, Burley would be a very popular starting and finishing place for walks.
Adamson Bridge Latest
Bridge now replaced.
KW
Three Books For £5
The following West Riding Area books are available for £2 each, plus £1 postage, or for £5 (plus £1.50 postage) for all three:
- Ramblers Bradford: 20 walks in the Bradford Metropolitan District
- The Wakefield Way: a 75 mile walking route around the Wakefield Metropolitan District linked to 24 enjoyable circular walks
- Ramblers Leeds Volume 2 West of Leeds: excellent for walks to Fulneck, Cragg Wood, Caley Crags and many other delightful paces close to Leeds
To take advantage of this offer, contact John Lieberg, 11 Woodroyd Avenue, Honley, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, HD9 6LG
Both the new Harrogate books (Country Walks Around Harrogate Volume 1 East and Volume 2 West) are close to selling out! Extra coppies of Volume 1 East are being printed. Another Area publication that has been very successful recently is “Kiddiwalks” which has sold consistently.
JUST PUBLISHED BY WEST RIDING AREA OF THE RAMBLERS' ASSOCIATION!
COUNTRY WALKS AROUND HARROGATE VOLUME 2 WEST by Douglas Cossar 2008
ISBN 978-1-906494-03-2
"COUNTRY WALKS AROUND HARROGATE VOLUME 2 WEST"
24 WALKS IN THE ATTRACTIVE COUNTRYSIDE OF NIDDEDALE, WASHBURN VALLEY AND
SURROUNDINGS OF HARROGATE
AVAILABLE FROM BOOKSHOPS AT £5.50 (ISBN 978-1-906494-03-2)
