Newsletter Issue 8 October 2013 In this issue: Wigley Lane repaired TRO for Roych and Long Causeway Hope Ride Another loop Diary dates: 25 October Consultation closes on Cherpit Lane 19 November AGM at Anchor Inn, Tideswell Kinder Loop Launch On the 3 rd June 2013, Cosima Towneley opened Peak Horsepower s Kinder Loop at The No Car Café at Rushop Hall. Cosima is a keen promoter of equestrian access both through her work with the British Horse Society and as a local councillor. She is also the daughter of Mary Towneley who, in September 1986, highlighted the poor state of our bridleways and campaigned for a long-distance route for horse-riders by riding with two friends from Hexham in Northumberland to Ashbourne in Derbyshire. This eventually led to the Pennine Bridleway being established - a 205 mile National Trail with horse riding at its heart. The Kinder Loop is a challenging new long-distance route for riders, cyclists and walkers. Passing through some of England s most dramatic scenery, it encircles Kinder Scout in the Peak District National Park using existing bridleways, lanes, the Pennine Bridleway and the Trans-Pennine Trail. The Kinder Loop would not have been possible without the support of Hoof Funding from Sport England, The British Equestrian Federation and the British Horse Society together with encouragement and practical help from the Peak District National Park Authority. Peak Horsepower also thanks Jan and Neil Allcock at Rushop Hall for their support of the launch. Full details including maps and written guides are available on the Peak Horsepower web site at http://www.peakhorsepower. co.uk/ PHP tops 250! PHP now has over 250 members. Keep spreading the word! Please tell your riding friends about us and ask them to think about joining. Membership form from the Treasurer at suedunk@lineone.net
Wigley Lane repaired Wigley Lane is a restricted byway (RB) that links the village of Rowland with Longstone Edge. It is especially important to local riders as it is now the only way to get from Rowland up onto the Edge without risking meeting off-road vehicles. Before it was classified as a RB, the lane was heavily used by trail bikes and became so badly damaged it became impassable and dangerous on horseback. PHP pressed for repairs which DCC have now completed including the damaged drainage. The surface is excellent for horses. Vehicle bans for Roych and Long Causeway The Peak Park has taken final decisions on what to do about 4x4s, quad and trail bikes using the Roych and Long Causeway. The Roych is part of the Pennine Bridleway. Long Causeway crosses Stanage Edge and links Sheffield with Outseats and Hathersage. The Peak Park has confirmed it will bring in Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) excluding motor vehicles from both routes. This is the best possible news for local horse riders as off-road vehicles have made both routes dangerous on horseback and Long Causeway impassable due to surface damage. Long Causeway is to get a vehicle ban at last, but much of the track is still impassable on horseback. Roych, 2006 Evidence from horse riders and other user groups played an important part in helping PDNPA secure the vehicle bans, which they have done in the teeth of determined opposition and campaigning by organizations representing off-roaders. Well done Peak Park and a big thank you to everyone who took part in the public consultations. We will email members to let you know when the two TROs are in place, after which point all motor vehicle use will be a criminal offence. Unfortunately it will be a while yet before riders can use the whole of Long Causeway as the surface on the Hathersage side is too dangerous and needs repair. But riders will be able to use the Sheffield end knowing they will not be meeting 4x4s, quads and trail bikes. Do we need a change in rights of way law? The 2006 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act is supposed to put the brakes on offroading, but it has not solved the problem. Offroading is growing as a sport and more and more lanes are being used by 4x4s and trail bikes, not just in the Peak Park but all over the country. Offroaders are free to use any unsurfaced lane which is a non-classified highway (NCH) ie a route which is neither a footpath, restricted byway, bridleway or part of the normal tarmac road network. NCHs simply have no protection under the 2006 Act. And that s not all, Highway authorities are failing to use their Traffic Regulation Order powers to exclude vehicles from NCHs where their presence is putting walkers and riders in danger. There is also no way to challenge a highway authority which refuses to use a Traffic Regulation Order other than via judicial review, which is extremely expensive. Peak Horsepower believes that rather than processing and deciding BOAT claims on lanes on a case-by-case basis as happens now and which will take decades, recreational motor vehicles should not be allowed on unsurfaced lanes. This would solve the problem quickly and stop the expense of public inquires and consultations. You can see our case for new legislation at http://www. peakhorsepower.co.uk
Consultation on vehicle ban for Leys (Chertpit) lane please take part The Peak Park is currently consulting on its intention to exclude off-road vehicles from Leys Lane in Great Longstone. This lane and its extension, Chertpit Lane, is the one which was featured in the 2010 BBC documentary about off-roading in the National Park. Local residents have been campaigning for a vehicle ban ever since the lane became a BOAT. The Peak Park is proposing a permanent ban on all types of motor vehicle. The lane is narrow, has blind bends and nowhere for a horse to get out of the way of vehicles. It is very dangerous and riders have had to stop using it. Please help secure the vehicle ban by taking part in the consultation. And please spread the word among your friends. This is a national consultation and anyone can take part. The details and an online response facility are at http://consult.peakdistrict. gov.uk/details.cfm?troid=7 The closing date for responses is 25 October. Photographs by kind permission of Malcolm Andrew. Ride in Hope Peak Horsepower worked jointly with the Derbyshire Group of Endurance GB to organise a ride from Hope on 18 August; 36 riders took part in a ride to Peak Forest which included some good canters in wonderful scenery above Castleton. Many thanks to Hope Construction Materials for allowing us to park at the cement works. Leys Lane: vehicle damage has been repaired twice by DCC. PDNPA is now consulting on a vehicle ban. Walkers and riders can no longer use it in safety. Getting bridleways repaired If your local bridleway is badly in need of repair, ask your highway authority to repair it. Highway authorities are legally obliged to keep all highways (including bridleways and RBs) in a decent state of repair. Lack of funds is not in law a defence for failing to do repairs. PHP can advise you what to do next if your request for repairs is refused.
Black Harry Lane DCC has decided that Black Harry Lane is a bridleway. There will inevitably be objections from the offroaders, which means there will have to be a public inquiry. We are optimistic as the historic evidence shows it as definitely a bridleway and there is strong local evidence not only that use of the lane by off-road vehicles was resisted by the landowners but that vehicle use of the lane was by force (walls deliberately knocked down to get vehicle access to the lane). Use of force trumps any BOAT claim which has to rely on recent vehicle use. Upperdale to Brushfield DCC is in the process of investigating the historic position on the Brushfield route in the Monsal Head area. Historical research by the Peak District Green Lanes Alliance shows it to be part bridleway part private carriage road. If this is correct, then there are no historic vehicle rights and the BOAT claim will hinge on when vehicles started to use the route and whether in using it they have caused a public nuisance. It will almost certainly go to a public inquiry. Meanwhile the Peak Park is still working on its plans for a permit scheme for vehicles, on which PHP expects to be consulted. There will also be a public consultation in due course. Meanwhile we are waiting to hear exactly what the details of the proposed permit scheme will be. Byway Open to all Traffic (BOAT) claim updates Derbyshire County Council is slowly working its way through the large number of BOAT claims in the Derbyshire part of the Peak Park. It will take many years for all the Derbyshire claims to be processed. PHP and the Peak District Green Lanes Alliance fight any claims where there is no historic evidence of vehicle rights. In these circumstances there is always a chance of defeating a BOAT claim. Here is an update on current cases. eak Forest A623 Tideswell Monsal Trail ddington Chelmorton Flagg A515 A6 Foolow Litton Monsal Dale Lt. Longstone Gt. Hucklow Ashford in the Water B5055 Monyash Sheldon Eyam Stoney Middleton Calver Bakewell Grindle Curb Hassop Gt. Longstone Basl Pilsley A6020 R. Wye Edensor Haddon Over Rowsley Haddon A6 Brushfield to Upperdale: riders have to trespass on adjacent farm land to use this part of the route; other parts are narrow with dangerous bends; there is also nuisance to farmers and vehicle damage to an SSSI and to archaeological remains. A619 B6001 A625 Froggatt Edge R. Derwent A Ch Riley Lane A second public inquiry into Riley Lane (Eyam) and its link to Jacob s Ladder (Stoney Middleton) which was scheduled for September was cancelled at the last minute as Derbyshire County Council had not published the necessary public notices. We are waiting for a new date. There is still some hope of winning this one even though it went against us the first time round. Bradley Lane, newly resurfaced Bradley Lane We reported in the last newsletter that following a public inquiry the Planning Inspectorate decided that Bradley Lane, Pilsley, is a bridleway. The offroaders have objected to the decision, which means that there has to be a second public inquiry. This will probably take place around the middle of next year. Meanwhile the lane remains on the Peak Park s list of lanes causing it most concern.
AGM 19 November Anchor Inn Tideswell 7.30 Ania Williamson an equine, canine and human physiotherapist is coming to talk about her work with horses and riders. Her web site is www. equinecaninephysio.com/ We hope to see you there! AlwaysA Always Dial 101 Please remember to report to the police any dangerous incidents you see involving offroad vehicles. And please report any use of bridleways by motor bikes, quads and 4x4s. Taking a motor vehicle onto a bridleway is illegal. Just dial 101. Always ask for an incident number. Without one your complaint doesn t make it into the statistics. Going More Loopy! Following the successful launch of the Kinder Loop earlier this year, we have now started work to establish another circular long distance ride in the Peak District. The proposed route will cover nearly 70 miles over the limestone countryside in the south of the National Park. For the most part it will be on existing bridleways and quiet lanes but will include part of the Monsal, High Peak, Tissington and Manifold Trails. The terrain won t be as challenging as the moorland stretches of the Kinder Loop but there will be plenty of stunning views and off-road riding to enjoy. For the really adventurous, it will be possible to join the two loops together using part of the Pennine Bridleway. This will enable a 130 mile ride over some of the most spectacular countryside of the National Park. Manifold Valley in the White Peak Interested in joining the PHP committee? We are always on the lookout for extra committee members. We meet once a month at the Anchor Inn in Tideswell. If you would like to help us do even more for horse riders we would love to hear from you. Just contact the Secretary at peakhorsepowersecretary@ hotmail.co.uk PHP Committee Wendy Neilson (Chair) Sue Dunk (Treasurer) Sue Mayer (Secretary) Mark Fidler Charlotte Gilbert Christine Harding (DPBW) Julia Heesterman Hilary Stephens Patricia Stubbs (off-roading) Diane Tranter Ally Turner Nicola Tym (HVRC) Louisa Wilson (SPEED) Representatives of all the riding clubs and groups affiliated to PHP receive agendas and minutes and can also attend committee. Website a hit! There are now over 1,000 hits a month on the PHP website. It has all the latest news plus information about our pleasure rides in the Peak District. We are at http://www.peakhorsepower.co.uk/ and you can also find us on Facebook Contacting PHP peakhorsepowersecretary@hotmail.co.uk www.peakhorsepower.co.uk