Work on Fields at Shawfield Lane

After a Facebook Post was placed on Norden Village Noticeboard, concerning work apparently blocking the bridlepaths along Shawfield Lane and Caldershaw Lane, we went up to see what the issue was. The farmer was there finishing off a style leading into the field at the top of Caldershaw Lane. The style does not affect the two bridlepaths at all and replaces a style that was in that location until about 10 years ago. It does not restrict walkers access into the fields though it will make it tricky for dogs to traverse it. 

The meeting with the farmer though was very constructive. He will soon be fencing the field on the left as you traverse up Caldershaw Lane but wont be fencing the field on the right until the back end of the year, by which time he intends to repair the Caldershaw Lane Bridlepath making it suitable for horses to once again be able to use the route.

He will be reinstating the two gates at the Norden end of Shawfield Lane to reinstate the holding pen. However his intention is that these gates will only be closed when the pen is in use rather than as it was with the previous farmer the two gates always shut. This will be welcomed by the local horse riding community. NBHBA have also been in discussion with Rochdale Rights of Way Officer for a few months now regarding the gate at Hargate Avenue end of Shawfield Lane. We have been pointing out that, once the fields are refenced, the current gate actually blocks access to the Bridlepath and have suggested three alternative arrangements to solve this issue. 

If any riders have concerns regarding these routes please email us on nbhbridleways@gmail.com and we can feed these into the discussions with the farmer and the Rights of Way Officer.