Local Bridleways News
17 March 2018
STOP PRESS!!! We have learnt today that Highways England have agreed that the new Non-Motorised User bridge to be fitted across the A14 at Swavesey Services will be open to equestrian usage providing we dismount and lead our horses over. This is fantastic news and we have lobbied hard for several years to ensure that equestrians were included in this crossing provision. A big thank-you to everyone who's helped keep this item in people's minds. Swavesey Bridleways will be working with Highways England to ensure that mounting blocks are provided at either end of the bridge.
8 March 2018:
On Sunday 18 March please note the Guided Busway public bridleway between Swavesey and Fenstanton, plus surrounding roads will be busy from 9am-2pm with the Swavesey Half Marathon running race which always attracts a lot of runners. HQ is Swavesey Village College.
6 March 2018:
Two diary dates for us all:
Monday 12 March 7.30pm is our AGM, at usual venue 62 Boxworth End, Swavesey CB24 4RA.
Tuesday 27 March 7-9pm is our Indoor Tabletop Tack Sale at Hilton Village Hall, The Grove, Hilton, Cambs PE28 9PF. Tables are £5.00. Bookings to Tina Yates or Sue Rogers (details on Contacts page).
6 March 2018:
A14: we are awaiting written confirmation from Highways England that equestrians will be able to use the Swavesey Non-Motorised User bridge provided we dismount and lead our horses across (mounting blocks will be provided). This confirmation is extremely important as being able to cross at the Cambridge Services junction provides a joined-up link between the large horse riding population of Swavesey and nearby villages with the beautiful bridleway network emanating from Boxworth.
BHS Ride Out Month: local bridleway groups are encouraged to put on events to mark this BHS bridleways initiative. We are looking for ideas and offers of helps from our members for events we could put on - fun rides, escorted hacks, self-guided hacks, bridleway vegetation clearances, etc. Please bring your ideas and offers to the AGM or contact a committee member (details on Contacts page).
BHS Bridleway Affiliation: the BHS has hugely increased their annual insurance premium for affiliated bridleway groups who wish to organise events (of any type - bridleway work, rides, tack sales) from £40 per year to £100 per year to include the necessary public liability insurance. SDBA funds are low (because we do not charge membership) so we are asking all our members to please consider donating £2 towards the increased cost of this year's insurance. Thank you to everyone so far who has already donated. Donations can be cash or cheque to committee members, or via paypal to: mail4SDBA@gmail.com
Willingham/Aldreth Causeway river bridge concrete: during the winter, a local landowner placed large concrete blocks onto the bridge to prevent vehicle passage. The blocks' position prevented horse riders from being able to cross safely. SDBA reported the matter to the County Council and BHS, and the blocks have now been repositioned so that horse riders can pass safely.
Northstowe development: as housing building works continue, so the southern perimeter bridleway begins to take shape. The section from Station Road to junction with Rampton Drift is now agreed formally. In late April we expect to see the Longstanton-Oakington "airfield road" closed permanently to vehicular traffic. This is to allow a new access road from the A14 into/out of Northstowe to be built. During and after these building works, developers will maintain a crossing point for non-motorised users (walkers, cyclists, equestrians) so that we can still use the "airfield road". This is essential as it forms part of a well-established riding loop for horse riders from both Longstanton and Oakington livery yards in particular, but also those from Rampton and Willingham too.
Greenways: there are several consultations ongoing on Greenways - routes into/out of Cambridge for non-motorised users (walkers, cyclists, equestrians). SDBA has attended some of these consultations and continues to ask that these "spokes" need joining-up with a "rim" so that people can travel around Cambridge, not just in radial mode in and out of Cambridge. Not everybody wants to go to Cambridge city!
Guided Busway: the County Council have informed SDBA that there will be four vegetation cuts of the busway during 2018. (I think there were 2 last year and one cut did not include the Swavesey to St Ives end). SDBA will continue to monitor the busway to ensure the Swavesey to St Ives end receives the same attention as the city end. This is especially important as the Swavesey-St Ives tarmac path is just 3 metres wide whereas the Swavesey to Cambridge section is wider at 4m. SDBA is also continuing to press (for the sixth year running) for the County Council to remove the self-sown crack willows which are springing up 6" or less from the tarmac edge in several places (between Swavesey and Fen Drayton, between Fenstanton and St Ives) as these in time will become massive trees which will completely obstruct the tarmac path and their roots will break up the surface.
12 June 2017:
BHS are gathering data on hacking incidents.
http://www.bhs.org.uk/safety-and-accidents/report-an-incident
10 June 2017:
Fallen tree at Fen Drayton RSPB has been reported. Should be removed this week. Can get around it (on grass bridleway between 2 lakes between disabled carpark and busway).
21 May 2015:
More pleasure rides added to our Pleasure Rides page (see left).
19 April 2015: Yesteryear Run
Sunday 19 April: Yesteryear Vintage Vehicle Run. Expect lots of traffic throughout the local area. Raising funds for Cancer Research UK. Parade led by many motorbikes, then cars, then tractors, vans, etc. Route/approx timings: assembling Cottenham Green from 8am, leaving Cottenham Green from 9.30am to Rampton (stopping on green), then onto Willingham (stopping on green near Duke of Wellington, then coming past library, left at Co-op and down High Street, right at traffic lights towards Highgate Farm shop, to Over (may be stopping at the crossroads/green) then onto MARKET STREET Swavesey for lunch in White Horse pub. (NB Not at Swavesey Village College as in previous years). Then via Middlewatch, Ramper Road to Longstanton, St Michaels, (airfield road), Oakington (stopping at White Horse), over xroads then left to Histon (stopping at green), then left at traffic lights to get to Cottenham for 4pm.
Expect traffic disruption along all the route ESPECIALLY Swavesey High Street around lunchtime (12-2pm).
Swavesey people please note Market Street and the green will be used for parking all the vehicles with a through-route kept (probably on hairdresser's side down to Cow Fen).
15 April 2015: more pleasure rides added
More pleasure rides added to our Pleasure Rides page (see left). Tetworth and some Leicester/Rutland Bridleway rides too.
15 April 2015: Mow Fen horsestile ground surfacing work completed
Many thanks to those Swavesey Bridleway group members, Swavesey Parish Council and Shelford Bridleway Group who donated towards the cost of this work. The work was completed yesterday and we now have a good, firm surface which should not poach in wet weather. Anyone who did not donate but would like to, there is still opportunity to do so, please just contact Sue Rogers (email/phone on Contacts page) and your donation will go towards future improvement works of horse riding trails in our local area. Thanks!
7 April 2015: Mow Fen horsestile ground surfacing fundraising
We are asking local riders/cyclists to donate towards the cost of sourcing and spreading roadplanings onto the ground around Mow Fen horsestile which gets very poached and wet in wet weather. £5 per rider is the suggested nominal amount. Do you cross Mow Fen horse stile? (shown as the black cross on right hand side of the map below)? If so, would you like to donate £5 towards having a firmer surface all-year round at this point please? Donations can be sent to Sue Rogers (cheque to "Swavesey Bridleways" or cash. Receipts will be issued). Thank you!
17 March 2015: Where to ride at RSPB Fen Drayton please
When riding on the RSPB permissive track between Swavesey and Fen Drayton, please do not go off-piste to explore the 3 peninsulas. Also please stay on the concrete road and stay off the parallel grass track at Fen Drayton end between busway and RSPB carpark. These 4 areas are pedestrian-only. I've had the RSPB wardens contact me this morning about continued use by horse riders of these areas despite my previous pleas with you all. You might like to know I am currently working with the RSPB on creating some new bridleways in the area too so please do not jeopardise our future riding. Map attached below for anyone who's unsure what bits they should not ride on. Please keep off the bits marked in red.
March 2015: Send a short email to the Highways Agency by Thursday 12 March for the A14 bridleways!
The deadline for responses to the Highway Agency's latest A14 consultation is this Thursday, 12 March. We need as many of you as possible to submit a response on-line supporting our work with the Highways Agency on NMU (Non-Motorised User) routes. This includes a bridleway bridge over the A14 at Lolworth, further crossings at Bar Hill and Girton, a new parallel bridleway running the length of the existing A14 from Cambridge to Huntingdon. Please support us.
All you have to do is go to the Highways Agency website (address below), click the "Register on line" button, add some details, complete the various tick boxes (hint: you can say No to attending any/all of the hearings/meetings), then into the Your Representation box at the bottom, write your submission and click Submit Form button.
If you're unsure what to write for your submission, it's fine to say something short along the lines of the suggested text below:
"I am a (local resident living in X/commuter/cyclist/walker/horserider/birdwatcher/have children who cycle/etc) and fully support the submissions on NMU provision given as responses to this consultation from A14NMU and its founder-group members, Swavesey Bridleways, British Horse Society, Sustrans, Cambridge Cycling Campaign, Cyclists Touring Club (Cambridge) and Ramblers Association (Cambridge), as well as the submission from the Local Access Forum (Cambridgeshire). Good NMU provision helps decrease traffic levels and provides a more pleasant environment for us all to live and work in."
Please do it before Thursday 12 March as that is the cut-off date. Thank you!
February 2015: Reporting problems with public rights of way or highways
Any problems with public rights of way or highways can be reported to the local highways authority (Cambridgeshire County Council) via this link please.
http://www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/HighwaysReports/Highways/ReportProblem1.aspx
February 2015: Changes at County Council
County Council's Environments and Countryside Dept (public rights of way) is being subsumed into the Highways Dept.
November 2014: Westwick Byway 3 (Rampton Drift)
Surface repaired and currently in good order. Easily passable on foot, cycle or horse.
January 2014: windfarm Aldreth/Haddenham near public rights of way
For details on this, please see our Facebook page and contact Nicky Brown.
6 December 2013, Swavesey-A14 (Buckingway Industrial Estate) Public Bridleway
Work will start in March 2014 on building a roadside public bridleway (tarmacked with a grass verge) between Swavesey (Boxworth End) and the A14 (Buckingway Industrial Estate).
16 November 2013, Westwick Byway 3 (Rampton Drift)
Badly damaged to point of impassability by harvesting operations in adjoining fields. The well-drained roadplanings track and the grass verges is now a myriad of 60cm deep of agricultural vehicle ruts with thick slurry coating on top. It is impossible to walk or cycle along, and fairly dangerous (trip hazard) on horseback too. It has been reported to County Council's rights of way dept today, using form: http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/roads/reportingafault.htm
10 October 2013, A14NMU in Cambridge News
Today's Cambridge News. Thanks to journalist Chris Havergal. http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Dont-forget-about-cyclists-walkers-and-horse-riders-in-A14-upgrade-says-campaign-group-20131010060000.htm
1 October 2013, A14NMU launch
A14NMU is launched today, Tuesday 24 September. A14NMU is a campaign group representing local equestrians, cyclists and walkers. SDBA has joined as one of the founder members of A14NMU. SDBA will be working with the Highways Authority through the consultation and design process to ensure high quality, segregated Non Motorised User (that's all of us!) routes both parallel to the A14 and permeating across it safely. See our brand new website and let us know of other local NMU groups who should be joining our campaign members list! http://www.A14NMU.co.uk
1 October 2013, closure of Swavesey windmill bridleway.
This former Countryside Stewardship Scheme permissive bridleway is now closed to the public due to scheme-end. This bridleway formed part of a safe link between Swavesey and Fen Drayton.
With its closure, riders/cyclists have three options, flood-dependent.
Option 1: guided busway bridleway. Usable unless flooded by river/rain. Tarmac surface.
Option 2: Mow Fen Drove public bridleway Swavesey over metal horse stile, through RSPB permissive lakeside bridleway, over wooden horse stile to Holywell Ferry Road public byway Fen Drayton. Usable unless flooded by river/rain. Mixture of gravelled and grass surfaces.
Option 3: take Fen Drayton Road (60mph limit and steep camber) out of Swavesey, turn right into signposted RSPB reserve entrance (concrete road), follow through over metalled Covills Drain bridge to Holywell Ferry Road public byway Fen Drayton. Usable all year.
9 July 2013: Public bridleway crossing of busway at Fen Drayton.
SDBA has reported to the County Council's Guided Busway Team Leader that the nearside eastbound red grippy surfacing has come away completely (like an old snakeskin) and is lying further down the busway in a gap). We have received a reply. The contractor is corresponding with the sub-contractor over the issue as there seems to be an issue over the warranty for the original works.
21 May 2013, maps for riding routes
Thanks to Nev J Fraser we now have maps/directions of some of our local riding routes available as well as the text route directions on the Swavesey Bridleways website:
1 Guided busway
Routes 2
Wednesday 28 September 2012: new Public Bridleway, Oakington
A brand new public bridleway opens today, linking Gun's Lane public bridleway with public bridleway 4.
Many thanks to landowners PL and WS Stroude who kindly agreed for this way to be created on their land, and to Cambridgeshire County Council, in particular Karen Champion and Camilla Haggett, for the work on the creation agreement.
3 January 2012: Ouse Fen new bridleway, thanks Hansons/RSPB
The new bridleway loop in Ouse Fen (Over-Earith-Willingham) is now open for use (January 2012) following a letter we received from Ian Briggs at Hansons, though there is some paperwork to be finalised by Cambridgeshire County Council (Camilla Haggett's onto this).
The new section starts at Brownshill Staunch (the conveyor belt over the River Ouse, north of Overcote Road, Over). You pass through a bridleway gate underneath the conveyor belt, turn east/right and ride alongside the conveyor belt for a short while, then turn north/left and follow beautiful wide open grassy bridleway (watch for holes due to drought damage) with dyke to your right and reedy grass to your left, well-signposted with blue bridleway signs on tall marker posts in a roughly northwards direction, parallel with but inland from the River Ouse. The route then takes you across an uncropped section of field (seeded but needs to establish so currently soft, bare earth) and over a brand new wooden bridleway bridge up to behind the bungalows at Earith.
From there you pick up the existing field margin grass bridleway back to north of Willingham and then across to Middle Way, Over.
Please note, now that the new loop is open, we will shortly LOSE the smaller loop of the broken concrete track/gravel track which leads directly from north end of Fen End Over up to behind bungalows at Earith. This is because this area of the fen is about to be excavated for gravel, which is why Hansons/Cambridgeshire County Council/RSPB have kindly put in the new western loop for us, to maintain the loop around the fen, most of which will be restored to wildlife/wetland under RSPB management, with public access, when gravel workings cease.