We’re the only family on our road that aren’t allowed access to a safe route

[Realitea]

I am so upset right now. We live in a rural lane and the only way to get to the bus stop with my Dd is through another lane which the council have confirmed is a public footpath

Yet our neighbours say they own it and we aren’t allowed access. When I asked what our alternative route was they said a bridlepath. The bridlepath is really muddy and slippery and dark. Also if a horse comes along we have literally nowhere to stand and it’s quite dangerous.

Wtf do I do? I’ve only just moved here! The neighbours are in very close proximity so a fall out would be horrendous.

That’s true, I need to give as good as I get. I don’t mean be agressive but I do need to stand up for our family.
I’m going to speak to the council, I think I’ll have to go in as I’m getting nowhere at the moment.

No the official route shows as a road on the maps. I know landowners can apply for a re route but I don’t think a bridlepath is an acceptable re route.

if you're renting i'd also take it up with your Landlord as its ridiculous renting a place where the 'only' foot access is a muddy/dangerous bridle path.

It is not your choice to fall out with them, they have put you in an impossible situation because their illegal and selfish actions are putting your child's safety (as well as your own) at risk. I realise it is your first instinct to feel that it is you causing trouble with them but it really isn't, they are doing this to you and you are using the proper channels to stop it happening.

If a child at school was demanding your child's dinner money would you expect your child not to fall out with them by refusing to hand it over or reporting it to a teacher?

Very true Oddboots and thank you for making me feel like i can do this. It’s not me in the wrong.
I am pretty annoyed the landlord didn’t tell me about this. Especially as I made it clear I don’t drive and questioned access when I looked at the house.

Is this a small village you live in OP ? If it is I think you should contact your parish council clerk. They may not know the answer but they will have the ability to contact the next council up the chain faster than you can.

Definitely Parish Council.
It sounds like the neighbours have been bullying everyone else for a long time so standing up to them isn't going to be easy but if its a choice of that or having your kids walk down a dangerous muddy path then I know what I'd go for.

What did the police say when you reported it previously?

That's how CFs get away with this. You are right, they are wrong, THEY are the one causing the issues, not you.

Use the path. Tell them to complain to the council and stop harassing you or you’ll call the police. In your shoes I’d call the police every time they bothered me to make sure it was on file, and I’d seek a restraining order against them.

I had a neighbour who used to stop people using a lane with 2 Shetland-sized dogs on leads. It was a public right of way but he was attempting to stop people using it so that he could close it to the public altogether.

And in some pockets, the right of way feuds are horrendous. I'm thinking now of someone who owns the 'road' that allows people access to their homes (2 buildings). He doesn't want them to use it tho' there literally is no other way than being rappelled in by helicopter. So, he will not keep the road surface in repair except for the part that leads from the public road to his home.

I wouldn`t care about falling out with them they must be truly horrid people to object to a local child using a pathway.

You need to find out the legalities of this because your neighbours may not be right.

In the meantime Wellington boots are the order of the day.

If it’s the access to your home then even if they do own it you are likely to be granted permanent access rights. You aren’t allowed to deny someone access to their property across land that you own.

If you are i a village the Parish Council might have a footpaths officer who may be able to assist. Ring the Parish Clerk ( unless he or she is your neighbour)
Also apply pressure to the letting agent to clarify with the LL.

Yes definitely contact the parish council clerk, they will be able to escalate it faster and will send a letter to the CFs.

Your Council might have its rights of way records viewable on line.
If this route is a public footpath you don't need permission to use it.
If you are challenged, report it to the Council, your Ward Councillor, Parish Council if you have one and the Police. The Council can write to the neighbours but a visit from the Police would make it quite clear. Ownership is irrelevant if it is a properly recorded footpath.

He’s attempting an illegal land grab! He doesn’t own it. And he cannot get you or your children off the path without physically touching you, so keep using it. Tell your children not to stop; use it and keep walkingno matter what he says. If he approaches them, follows them or touches them then you call the police.

When you use it, tell him to bugger off. If he says it is his then ask him to bring you the land registry showing that.

(When I say he doesn’t own it, I mean he doesn’t own the rights to restrict access. If it’s his but a public right of way then he can’t stop you)

Parish clerk is my next step then! Thanks all.
That’s what upset me most jollygoose, the fact they all have young children so you’d think they would empathise a bit, but no, they expect my 8 year old to use a dirt track while theirs gets to walk on a proper path.
It’s bloody disgusting.

Good advice about the council above but also contact the Ramblers Association and let them know there is a footpath that is being obstructed they have officers who deal with keeping rights of way open. They may also have helpful evidence that this is a footpath.

Might be worth getting someone unknown to your neighbours to use the footpath. That will show whether it is a footpath issue or a neighbour issue, if they are obstructed then they should report this too.

Finally the bridlepath should be safe for horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians to share. Horses and cyclists should give way to pedestrians. If it is in disrepair to the extent that it is unusable or unsafe report this to you council's rights of way department too. The British Horse Society, CTC and Ramblers can all help with access issues related to bridlepaths.

It may belong to them but it could also be a public footpath. There's lots of them around me that goes across farm land used by dog walkers and ramblers. You are perfectly entitled to use them and I believe they have to maintain them.

This is especially so if it gives you access to your property. Presumably they knew the last tenants had left and you move in, and you can hardly drive a moving van across a bridle path! What do they think emergency service vehicles will do?!

Have only skim read, but have you downloaded the neighbours land plan from the official Land Registry? It’s only a few pounds for the plan and a copy of their deeds. That should tell you if it’s recorded as a publicly owned footpath, or if it’s private land with a public right of way over it.

If you do this make sure you go to the Land Registry site and not one of the cunningly disguised resellers who charge more money.

Your landlord should tell you what your legal vehicular access is too if there is any dispute about that and let them deal with any hassles arising.

Land Registry may not tell you if there is a public footpath. That's not the purpose of those records. They show private rights, not public ones.
The Council is the only authorative source of that information.

shouted at and marched to the bridlepath

Just wanted to reiterate that a friendly relationship with these people seems like it might be a jolly long road. What other contact have you had with them?

Good luck with this battle.