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Original poster

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

109 replies

Realitea · 17/01/2019 10:12

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.

OP posts:
BruceAndNosh · 17/01/2019 13:42

Them owning the land and it also veing a public footpath with Right of Way are not mutually exclusive.
Most footpaths pass over land that is owned by someone, who might not like the idea of people using it, but it is still a ROW.
www.rowmaps.com is very useful. I use this a lot and have never been challenged even when walking through someone's farmyard.

Marcipex · 17/01/2019 13:50

@Whatdoesitmatteranyway. Perhaps they weren't 'tossers'. Maybe they were just confused or misinformed.

Raspberry88 · 17/01/2019 14:11

Perhaps they weren't 'tossers'. Maybe they were just confused or misinformed.

This. If the council told them it was public then how are they tossers?

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Driving & parking
Whatdoesitmatteranyway · 17/01/2019 14:17

I spoke to the council myself on numerous occasions.

In general people didnt explain properly which path they were using so the council were telling them it was ok believing it to be the bridal path.

In the end I made a sign and put it at the start of the road indicating that the public right of way was to the right/left (depending on which end) and that the paved section was private land.

They still bloody used it even when I put a padlocked gate up!

Beamur · 17/01/2019 14:19

@StarJumpsandaHalf
Deeds are not reliable for public rights of way information. Partly due to timings - the deeds might be older than the recording of the public right for example, but they are just intended for other reasons.
I think a lot of people would expect this information to be held by the Land Registry, but it isn't. The prime holder of public rights of way information is the 'Surveying Authority' I.e the Council. Every where else that shows or uses this information takes it from there, e.g. Ordnance Survey.
When you buy a house, information about rights of way is a separate question, although I think it is now mandatory whereas a few years ago it was an optional extra question (which you had to pay more for).
So, it's entirely possible your deeds do not indicate a right a way when one could exist.

Neverunderfed · 17/01/2019 14:58

The way they spoke to the OP's son sounds quite tosser like though to be fair.

Original poster
Realitea · 17/01/2019 16:52

Ok I went to council today and there have been some developments!
I showed then exactly on the map online where it looks like a public footpath. Despite them telling me already that it is and it’s number, they told me that in fact that’s wrong and it is private land with no public right of way. The access stops just as you get to the gate.
The house next to me owns all the lane which is why they’re allowed access and not us. Our alternative is this bridlepath and that’s it. I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous. Although I accept it now that it’s not public I think the council should make it clearer on the map (they agreed it is very unclear on there) and I think the neighbours should be a bit more neighbourly and just let us use it to walk to the bus stop and back.
That said, I won’t be pushing for that to happen as I know it won’t. They clearly think we are beneath them and will always boss us about for as long as we are here. I suspect this is why the landlady put the house up for rent as there is a long standing dispute with the landlord and neighbours.
I think I should’ve been informed of all this before I moved in.
I’m just going to buy some wellies and get on with it now. It’s a beautiful house we’re in and we’ll just make the most of it

OP posts:
StrongTea · 17/01/2019 16:57

Next time you see them, apologise and explain council had it wrong. Hopefully you will get to be on better terms with them in the future.

YeOldeTrout · 17/01/2019 17:03

Oh dear. StrongTea's advice is good.

Didiusfalco · 17/01/2019 17:11

Oh dear. I suspect they can’t be relaxed about people using it, because if they let it be used as a public path for a length of time they could then be forced to let it be used as one.
I would let them know that the council gave you the wrong info and try to be breezy and friendly when you see them whilst keeping out of their way as much as possible as they don’t sound particularly nice.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 17/01/2019 17:11

How long is your lease for? I'd be most annoyed at the landlord if they misled you.

TheBrilloPad · 17/01/2019 17:13

But you said on your other thread about this that when you moved into your new cottage you didn't know about this path? So you moved in fully knowing you would have to use the dirt track.

It is what it is, it's not hours to use. Just apologise to the neighbours and explain you got it wrong, so that you can have good relations in the future.

Original poster
Realitea · 17/01/2019 17:25

TheBrilloPad, I said this in my previous thread “We did ask about the path before renting and we were told it was ok to go that way. The previous tenant told us he walked that way in bad weather without any problems.“
Anyway, it is what it is. A small plus side is that this afternoon I’ve found another bridlepath which avoids all the neighbours entirely so I’ll just go that way from now on. (Still really slippery steep and muddy though but anything for some peace!)

OP posts:
peridito · 17/01/2019 17:42

Realitea
this was posted earlier by @Lexiloo and might be worth persuing

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.

lljkk · 17/01/2019 18:10

Do you have low rent coz you live somewhere without a nice walking access to anywhere?

Original poster
Realitea · 17/01/2019 18:20

Peridito- thank you! It would be helpful if they made it safer. It could be a lot wider if they cut back the overgrowth. I doubt they’ll sort out lighting but you never know as it’s a class 4 footpath or something similar rather than it’s nickname of ‘bridlepath’ Grin

No lljkk, the rent is about right considering the area and condition of the house.

OP posts:
DishingOutDone · 17/01/2019 18:21

Marcipex - Perhaps they weren't 'tossers'. Maybe they were just confused or misinformed. - how does that give them the right to shout abuse at the OP's son? THAT's what makes them tossers.

I wouldn't be apologising, but I would tell them that you didn't know and had no way of knowing, if you see them. If you're not going to get any concession from them then pointless. Its your landlord/landlady who is at fault. I'd use it ask for a reduction in the rent!!

CarolDanvers · 17/01/2019 18:22

I think I'd go and apologise to them and try to build goodwill, which could maybe lead to you being able to use it. I would say though "my son was very upset at being shouted at and though I understand it must be frustrating for you, he is very young and just didn't know". If they've got an ounce of decency in them they'll apologise. If they don't then fuck them and their pathetic path.

NorthEndGal · 17/01/2019 18:27

I would talk to them about it, and explain the council gave you misinformation.
You dont want to spend forever fighting with the neighbours, or avoiding them.

Original poster
Realitea · 17/01/2019 18:29

I’m going to keep myself to myself from now on I think. I give up! Who knows what else we’ll do wrong while we’re here.

OP posts:
Raspberry88 · 17/01/2019 18:53

how does that give them the right to shout abuse at the OP's son? THAT's what makes them tossers.
Marcipex was replying to Whatdoesitmatteranyway calling walkers on her land tossers, she wasn't talking about the landowners in the OP.

ChakiraChakra · 17/01/2019 18:53

I don't understand why you seem resigned to there being more disputes in the future?!-Go and apologise, explain you were miss led by the council, there no reason why you can't still have at least polite relations from now on but it's in your hands whether you will make an effort for this to happen or not.

As others have said, it's not as simple as just allowing you to walk on their land. For starters they've probably had bad experiences of people not being respectful and reasonable, and most countryside landowners are highly aware that allowing informal permissive access can in the long term result in a Right of Way with associated expenses, obligations and hassle for the landowner. Even a Permissive Path has hassle associated with it, so I'm not surprised they don't want to open that can of worms.

Raspberry88 · 17/01/2019 18:54

I agree with CarolDanvers

Original poster
Realitea · 17/01/2019 19:07

I feel resigned to there being more disputes because every time we see one of the neighbours involved in this, they have a dig at something or other. Where to park, when to put the bins out (we knew already but she felt like we needed to be told in a condescending way), etc. Every time we see them we think ‘what next’
I’m always polite and smile but I won’t be going out of my way to make any friends now that I know what they’re like around here. I really miss my old town. Everyone was so friendly, it was like a community and there was always someone to go for a drink with or have a chat at the shops. None of that here! Sad

OP posts:
ChasedByBees · 17/01/2019 19:19

How long is your lease?