Horses In Northwood
Posted by Lorraine on Friday, 2nd December 2011, 09:44
Dear Roger M.
Please can you take some form of action against the riders of horses using pavements and footpaths in Northwood. I know this has been touched on in the past, but it’s getting a bit silly now.
The footpath between Nodes Rd and Newport Rd is regularly used in the evenings by horse riders. When I have approached them the response I get is “Yeah, whatever!”.
I’ve now stopped using the path (I don’t fancy being squashed by a spooked horse down there). They also walk horses on pavements around the village too, and I have had to step in the road on occasions to walk around them – Crazy!
Thanks for reading.
Lorraine
28th September 2011
15 Responses to “Horses In Northwood”
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Parish Council
I like Horses but I don’t like them on narrow footpaths and the reason why is that they rip up the paths and can, and often do, scare people, young and old!
If you have been brought up with horses and cattle you are aware of the nature of the beast and take precautions and when a few feet from them do not feel threatened, not so for most people and a narrow public footpath is not an option.
Roger please don’t waste more money on signs and railings, we have a law – use it.
The point really is that we cannot police footpaths like this to stop this potentially dangerous use by horseriders who I am sure are well aware, not least from pedestrian users’ reactions, that they are on a footpath, not e.g. a bridle way.
I am advised by officers that physical steps can be taken to stop horses using this path and I will post again as soon as I have further details.
Regards to all, Cllr Roger Mazillius.
Ok Roger if we must go down that road why not try a ” No Horses” sign placed each end where they can be clearly seen. Worth a try before the railings and concrete.
Agreed. Roger M.
Lizzie, you’re missing the whole point of the argument. It is illegal for horseriders to use public footpaths! End of argument, so you or whoever you are supporting should stop doing it or you/they will be prosecuted.
That’s the theory of course.
In practice, nothing will be done and the odds are there will be an accident caused by an out-of control horse.
The council should have no need to use our dwindling public funds to erect a barrier because these people are breaking the law and should have a Traffic Regulation Order slapped on them.
And to suggest the council simply carve bridleways across land between roads makes me think you haven’t given any thought to the cost of such a project. No doubt you would expect it to be funded by the council tax.
Please see this “Basics of Footpath Law” from the Ramblers Association and in particular parts 10 & 11:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/britain/footpathlaw/footpathlaw.htm#are
where the rules are clearly stated and there is an online reporting facility if anyone feels strongly enough about this potentially dangerous situation.
I should have thought that if there are no bridleways around Northwood then that would be a good reason to consider not riding horses here at all, or keep to roads that you feel safe to negotiate without breaking the law.
Lorraine and Roger might be interested to know that a group of 3 horses were trotting up the lane on Saturday afternoon.
Yes I did say the footpath is a small footpath because it is, horse riders only use it to get off the busy rode surely you can understand this? also there is no bridle ways around northwood which makes it harder for riders and which it makes them take a short cut down the footpath. Where riders go to and from by using the footpath is surely up to them. As I said in my last post it would be nice if the local council came together and opened up some bridle ways in northwood to make it better for everyone.
Yes this has been raised before and warnings given both in my Reports, Village Talk, my reports to the Parish Council and the riders concerned know the footpath is not a bridle way.
I know our Rights of Way department is considering the feasibility of appropriate railings (which end do residents think would be best? i.e. Nodes Road or Somerton?) including the cost of same.
I expect a detailed response any day which I will immediately share on the Forum.
Roger Mazillius
Best wishes, Roger
Hello Roger
Thanks again for looking into this.
Perhaps the railings would be best sited at the Nodes Road end of the path.
Many moons ago having horses in Northwood always seemed to be a problem, that horse owners couldn’t enjoy their interests. It would be so nice if the local council would be able to create bridleways so it would allow horse riders to get off the roads as the roads today have become more dangerous and busy, with all the heavy lorries passing. It frightens me to think of what accidents could appear, as everyone knows Northwood is a small community with a large amount of horses stabled in such a small place and hardly anywhere to ride. The cut between Nodes Road and Newport Road was used years ago by horse riders. It just seems that so many people of the general public have problems with horse riders. It would be nice if the local council would open up bridleways around Northwood so horse riders wouldn’t have to use small footpaths to take a short cut to get off the main busy roads and collide with walkers.
Many regards
Lizzy.
Hello Lizzy, I don’t have a problem with horse riders per se, just the use of this footpath as a shortcut – It would be interesting to know where you are going to and from.
You do seem to admit in your post though that the footpath between Newport Road and Nodes Road is a ‘small footpath’, so you can hopefully understand the worry/potential of having a spooked horse running along there with pedestrians (young and old) in its path.
Plus, when the rain returns this path will get all churned up.
Thanks for the horse riders’ perspective in this thread.
Many thanks for looking into it Roger
Thanks Lorraine.
Sorry this has re-surfaced. Will notify Rights of Way and Highways. The idea of railings is a good one.
More asap.
Roger M.
Perhaps some railings (like the ones at the bottom of Cranleigh Gardens footpath) or at worst just a sign either end of the footpath may persuade them not to do it.
Lorraine
Responding to the item complaining about horses using the Public Footpath between Nodes Road and Newport Road.
If my memory serves me correctly this matter has been raised by several posters over the last 12 months, our esteemed local councillor took an interest and gave out advice, but it seems all to no avail.
Come on councillor pick up the cudgel again and get a resolve to this irritating issue.