Someone trying to establish a bridle way through the farm yard

[livestock 1]

Had a letter this morning from someone wanting to establish a bridle way through the farm yard. Have heard advice not to reply to it somewhere but can’t remember where. No bridle way exists or has existed there in the past. Will ring agent and solicitor next week. Any advice or experience with this?

 

[Nearly]

Are they claiming one or wanting you to open one?
Is there a footpath?
I assume you always have had a gate and a stile up?

@Netherfield

 

[livestock 1]

Yes a gate and a stile.
The letter states there is one but it’s not on the map.
There is a footpath

 

[Gadget]

Contact the local council for a definitive map showing all the public rights of way. If there is not a bridle way through your yard that is a good start.
Has anyone been using the yard for a footpath or bridle way? I think that they will have to prove that they have used it for 12 years or more to claim a new right of way.

 

[livestock 1]

Contact the local council for a definitive map showing all the public rights of way. If there is not a bridle way through your yard that is a good start.
Has anyone been using the yard for a footpath or bridle way? I think that they will have to prove that they have used it for 12 years or more to claim a new right of way.

Yes we will. The letter states the footpath is marked the bridle way is not so I suspect it’s a try on. I was warned about this not for this farm in particular but generally. There is a gate at one end and a stile at the other. Stile has been there 20+ years gates been on forever as far back as I can remember. One locked for 20+ years. Never been used by horses.

 

[livestock 1]

There is a footpath which we accept

 

[Netherfield]

Stick with your first plan and get proper advice solicitor and agent, footpaths are bad enough but a bridleway can be nightmare, we had one through land rented from Yorkshire Water, a large percentage are fine and will always close gates behind them, but there's always the awkward ones who abuse the privilege.

 

[Kidds]

Very often the advice is to use a solicitor and/or agent. I think they are held in too high a regard, in my experience a great many don’t know what they are talking about, waffle unnecessarily and don’t put a great deal of effort into what you feel to be very important. I have come to the conclusion that “professional people” are not particularly professional at all.
I’m not saying don’t use them but you do need to do a great deal of your own homework to be sure they are doing what you want.

 

[Gadget]

We had someone claim that a track had existed and that they had driven over it since 1958! I had to prove not, although this chap had form and the council knew he was trying it on.
In your case plenty of letters from locals, stateing that the gate had been locked and that the other end has been a stile for 20+ years, should be a good start. In our case a track would obviously be easy to see on an aerial photograph so I bought some good ones showing several different years, from the 60's to the late 80's. I also got well respected locals to write on my behalf.
We won but it cost money (photographs mainly) and a lot of time.
I did speak to proffesionals but did it myself.

 

[livestock 1]

Our solicitor and agents are very good. It’s not the first time we/they have come across this and won’t be the last. Also have legal indemnity insurance which I don’t want to claim on but will if necessary.

 

[Lili]

Try your local county councils website. They may have maps online with the definitive footpaths etc marked. It will also give the footpath reference number which is useful if you need to contact the council wayleaves officer.

 

[Kidds]

If you know who is making this claim, get your solicitor to send them a letter acknowledging their claim and state you are happy for them to pursue it. Also state you are confident you have the necessary proof to win the argument and your barrister will be suing them for costs.
It doesn’t matter whether that would hold water but it will make them think again and you get some value out of your professional people.

 

[Netherfield]

Interfering council

No idea, but the ramblers are happy, no one else matters. No one could come up with absolute proof the signage had been there, and our claim of use, was just met with 'prove it' It is now on the definitive map as footpath, so thats that. If someone claims a footpath route all the council want is...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[S J H]

Get some biosecurity signs up for before they visit, might help if you end with the wrong officer.

 

[Gordy1]

There is a good app. You can down load (free!!) called Pathwatch it shows all the footpaths across the country, well worth it.

 

[livestock 1]

There is a good app. You can down load (free!!) called Pathwatch it shows all the footpaths across the country, well worth it.

Thanks I will do that now

 

[Northdowns Martin]

Who is putting claim to you? If it is a private individual or local group then it is a good idea to invite the area public rights of way officer to give you their opinion. If letter is from local council it may be a struggle unless you have a long history (20+) of challenges to riders and maintained barriers, styles gates etc. Most importantly and a message to all land owners and occupiers, make shall you have signage displacing no right of way! We had a claim for footpath and although we had challenged and it was gated it was passed as there were no signs saying it wasn’t a right of way and claimants who were clearly lying managed to sway the inspector decision.

 

[livestock 1]

Who is putting claim to you? If it is a private individual or local group then it is a good idea to invite the area public rights of way officer to give you their opinion. If letter is from local council it may be a struggle unless you have a long history (20+) of challenges to riders and maintained barriers, styles gates etc. Most importantly and a message to all land owners and occupiers, make shall you have signage displacing no right of way! We had a claim for footpath and although we had challenged and it was gated it was passed as there were no signs saying it wasn’t a right of way and claimants who were clearly lying managed to sway the inspector decision.

It is an individual on behalf of a group if that makes sense

 

[Northdowns Martin]

It is an individual on behalf of a group if that makes sense

So as far as you know a claim hasn’t been submitted to local rights of way?

 

[livestock 1]

So as far as you know a claim hasn’t been submitted to local rights of way?

I don’t know.