Bridleways Issues in Feb 2024

In February 2024 two Bridleway Issues were brought to our attention.

Meadow Croft Mill

 The situation through the salvage yard which had been building over the past 3 or so years had got to a dangerous position with loose slate tiles stacked adjacent to the bridlepath and the route becoming dangerously narrow and twisty. If a horse was to shy slightly and knock any of the piles the end result just did not dare be contemplated.

Queens Park Bridge 

 The route used by many riders from Plumpton Cottages, through the arch below Queens Park Road, and onto Mine Street had become very tricky to negotiate. The scaffolding was in place as a result of the ongoing work being conducted throughout 2024 to repair this historic bridge.

The path is on the definitive map as a footpath HeyFp57. A DMMO was submitted to RMBC in March 2022 to upgrade the route to a Bridlepath based upon User Evidence over 20+ years. It is not surprising that the scaffolding, which was in place to protect the public from the work going on above on the bridge, was erected with walkers in mind. However it was very narrow for horses to traverse the route. 

The work on the Bridge is scheduled to be ongoing throughout the whole of 2024 and so there was a potential that this route would be unavailable to horses for in excess of a year and would stop being able to link the Bridlepaths around Bamford and Crimble with the Bridlepaths around Ashworth and Birtle.

NBH Bridleways Association contact Environmental Management about both these two issues. The routes were visited within two days (thanks are due to the Rights of Way Officer for such prompt action). 

The Salvage yard was asked to rectify the route within two months by making it 2m wide and straight making it more accessible to the horses in the area.

The scaffolding is to be modified so that it is 2m wide and 3m high, again making it much more accessible to horses. It is hoped that this will be undertaken within a week. Photos of the routes will be added here once the work is done. If anyone has any further issues please just let us know and we will do our best to facilitate an amecable solution.