with rights come responsibilities, the right to walk on a footpath carries the responsibility to follow it, keep on it, shut gates, not leave rubbish and I don't believe there should be a right to take a dog with you on a footpath. People seem to know all about their rights, but forget their responsibilities (conveniently), but this could be part of successive governments infantilising the population.
The right to own land comes with the responsibility to allow unimpeded passage along footpaths and to follow the law. As much as inconsiderate footpath users are breaking the law , if you don't install proper gates, so are you.
I don’t have any proper gates, I won’t allow them...you get a stile or fanny Adams
maybe when people bought their farms, unimpeded access meant stiles on all fences, then about 10 or 15 years ago, people (Councils?) seemed to decide unimpeded meant gates, how come?
I don't know the rules for Kent, but a farmer local to me, installed Centrewire 2-in-1 gates. Field gates, with integral pedestrian gates, that work very well for the farmers possibly available from re-supplier McVeigh Parker, in Billingshurst. The cost of steel, therefore gates, has rocketed recently.
Partly due to the Ramblers Assoc's preference, for 'Least restrictive' access, and the Gov'ts aim to get people out walking, to improve physical, and mental, health. many walkers cannot safely navigate a stile, that, and they are prone to rotting, and becoming defective / dangerous to use. A galvanised gate will well outlast a softwood stile, especially since the change to non-toxic preservatives.
I saw a self-closing, galvanised gate, installed at a sloping angle, supported on a wooden frame, when I was in the Highlands last week. It looked very effective, from the perspective of not being able to be left open. I don't know if they're permitted in Kent, but have asked Surrey CC what they think.
Galvanised kissing gates are simple to install, and long-lasting, three of my footpaths maintenance volunteers take around two hours to instal one, like this, in Surrey, from last Tuesday, dependent on whether there's rocks, or roots, underground. We obviously added the wooden fence, to ensure it was stock-proof, and spread type 1 underneath, to reduce slipping.
I would not want kissing gates here, my view is if people want a kissing gate, buy their own farm and put them there.
We are not supposed to have that sort now - not wheelchair friendly. I pointed out that the rest of the footpath wasn't either and they said well it should be.
I think you'll find, Kent CC will have firm views on what is, or is not, appropriate, as a stock-proof barrier, on the Kent public footpaths network. Just because things were different, 50 years ago, it doesn't mean landowners now have autonomy, in regards to footpaths furniture. I'm a team lead, for a group of ten Surrey footpaths maintenance volunteers. I feel sure the Kent CC Footopaths Access Team, will have firm regulations, and expectations.
