Horse ownership in Essex is expanding.
Unless the
public ‘right of way’ network is increased significantly,
the problems will multiply. Bridleways and byways are
legal rights of way for public use on foot, horse and
bicycle. Horse-drawn vehicles are entitled to use byways.
Essex is divided into administrative districts, for which
the County Council is legally required to hold a correct Definitive
Map of public rights of way (which can be
seen at council offices). They have a duty to protect
those rights.
If local authorities are to make a proper job of the County
Council’s policy to create bridleways, they will need to
review the existing Definitive Map. |
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When this was first devised in
1953, the Ramblers’
Association promoted the rights of walkers and the National
Farmers’ Union protected the interest of
their members.
No such organisation existed to represent horse riders.
In the event, Parish Councils, largely made up of landowners,
did most of the groundwork for the map and
it is fair to say that a great many routes, which had been ridden
for decades, were either left off entirely or put on
as footpaths. This is not particularly surprising since those
were the days of little road traffic and comparatively few horses
(equine pursuits had not been a priority in a nation fighting
a recent war). It was not appreciated how important bridleways
were to become. Read More.... |
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