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Original poster

safety of a private road with an interconnecting bridle path

25 replies

zeospeed · 28/09/2021 12:32

Hi
We are seeing a property that we are likely to put an offer on within a private road. However I have noticed there is a bridle path connecting the private road to a main A road, do these cause safety issues? I've looked at the police crime map in the area and there are no frequent reports of crime from what I can see. It's just slightly disconcerting that theoretically anyone could walk/enter from the bridle pathway.

Thanks

OP posts:
Seeline · 28/09/2021 12:34

Presumable the road joins the public highway at some point though? Anyone can enter from that point too?

swishswashswoosh · 28/09/2021 12:35

Surely someone can also just saunter down the road anyway? Private doesn't mean completely inaccessible? You just aren't allowed to park there ever except within the conditions of the owners of the road. Or have I missed the point?

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 28/09/2021 12:41

Does the bridle path use part of the private road, or cross it? Is the visibility good of both road and path? I would have a slight worry about cars and horses crossing paths if there is a visibility issue. I might also be cautious about whether you might exposed to being sued if the public use part of the road and trip on a pothole or something. The least of my worries would be crime as a result of people being able to access the road. You can always put a gate on your own driveway if you want to increase security.

Original poster
zeospeed · 28/09/2021 12:42

See attached pic. Red is A road. Yellow is non private road. Green are private roads, house is in black and the bridle path is pink.

Thanks

safety of a private road with an interconnecting bridle path
OP posts:
potas · 28/09/2021 12:46

Depends on the bridleway. Some you can drive a 4x4 down and some you can barely get a horse down. But it does mean you would have people coming past the house and possibly down your private road as people/horseriding are unlikely to ride to your road then turn round and ride back. They will carry on to make a loop if possible.

bigbluebus · 28/09/2021 12:52

It's a public right of way. Unless it is very overgrown, I think you can expect that people will use it as either part of a circular walk or a cut through. Whether or not it will be a problem is impossible to say - that pretty much depends on the type of area it is in.

Original poster
zeospeed · 28/09/2021 12:57

Sorry just to further clarify
thanks

safety of a private road with an interconnecting bridle path
OP posts:
BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 28/09/2021 13:02

Now that I've seen the photo I think it's most likely to just be used by people who live on the private road to access the main road without having to go the long way around. I was imagining something that was part of a longer pathway system, the type of thing where people walk to walk rather than walk to get to the shops.

Carboncheque · 28/09/2021 13:03

If the bridleway joins the road like that I’d assume that it’s a private street (unadapted) rather than a private road.

Carboncheque · 28/09/2021 13:04

Unadopted.

Seeline · 28/09/2021 13:35

I really think you are overthinking things! The vast majority of houses are easily accessible by everyone. That bridleway isn't exactly hidden, and won't give protection to criminals wanting to hide away.

Postdatedpandemic · 28/09/2021 13:43

I'm not sure why the private road should have less crime than anywhere else.
Private street usually just means that the residents have to pay for maintenance and resurfacing.
A gated private road or community is another thing and reasonably unusual in this country.

Bouncebacker · 29/09/2021 05:49

The bridal way will make it easier for you to walk from you property which has to be a good thing ? I would guess you are likely to have more neighbours walking past than if it were a deadline but that’s handy for getting to know who lives on your street!

Pokhora · 29/09/2021 06:03

We have a very similar set up and the path is mainly just used by residents of our private road to walk dogs morning and evening. I have never seen a horse on it. We rarely get groups of ramblers on it. We are quite rural so that might make a difference to its use. There is a pub at the main road end of our path but I have never seen pub patrons use it. We reguarly use it to access the pub though.

Paq · 29/09/2021 06:19

Are you concerned about gangs of criminal horses OP?

ApolloandDaphne · 29/09/2021 06:26

We live in a house on a private road and there are lots of paths crisscrossing the land around it. People access the paths during the day to walk dogs etc but there is almost no one walking around at night as it is so dark. I find it to be safe and crime free. I think you are worrying unnecessarily.

flowerycurtain · 29/09/2021 06:31

Depends on what's on the other side of you.

If open fields that's a cracking little gateway for hare coursers to get through.

Spiindoctor · 29/09/2021 06:39

People go where there is car parking. If the road is unsuitable to park on who, apart from horseriders, are going to make their way up your road.

I would say on the whole that people don't encroach on what might be a dead end to a private house, which is what the lane looks like.

Do you have a dog ? Might frighten passing horses.

StrongArm · 29/09/2021 07:39

We used to live rurally and had a right of way (bridleway) coming past the bottom of the garden.

We didn't think it would be an issue but we have a dog and tbh it was a pain. We had to constantly keep a proper eye on him as people used to lean over and try and feed him/stroke him. He then learned that he might get treats so used to run to that side if anyone came past. He was fine with horses (we trained him to be so) but it would have been difficult if he wasn't though not sure how many horses will need to reach that A road!

Ours was only tricky as that side of the had a fence/hedgerow so we couldn't/didn't want to make it much higher but if we could have done, it would have made a difference.

I would pop by on a sunny weekend morning - you'll soon see how busy it is! Otherwise I wouldn't let it worry you if the boundary between your property and the bridle way is high/thick enough. Btw it looks v v pretty!

GU24Mum · 29/09/2021 08:21

It looks a lot like some of the places round where I am. Unless the bridleway connects with somewhere you think is likely to be a particular issue, you're unlikely to get more than (possibly lots of......) dog walkers and other people out for a walk. If there isn't much litter there when you check it, that's likely to indicate that you won't be having large groups of teenagers / people hanging round in the evening.

Which county is it - am intrigued!

MoreStuffingMatron · 29/09/2021 08:39

By all means put in an offer but to set your mind at rest also visit the property on a weekend and walk along the bridle path to check how it is used.

It’s odd the path ends right on your private road. This suggests your road could have been a bridle path too. Is there any evidence of horses using the road (droppings, hoof prints on the road?). If none and no nearby riding schools/livery yards the path is likely just a shortcut for walkers

Whydoyouneedtoknow · 29/09/2021 08:43

It's a quite well used path by the look of it, that wouldn't be a problem for me, what's to the left of the picture

8dpwoah · 29/09/2021 08:48

If your road/ development isn't gated then surely the little path doesn't add any extra risk as it's accessible anyway? Private just means you pay for the potholes yourself doesn't it?

Original poster
zeospeed · 30/09/2021 09:29

Thanks all it's Banstead Surrey way. I think having lived in London in a top floor flat with no lift has probably heightened my sense of what I find secure lol. Would be happy with people walking dogs etc. The concern is robbers casing out the property from the woods but I guess that is more likely if it is more densely covered so they can hide. No objection to horses my children would love them!! Thanks for your help, we're looking to go for it offer wise.

OP posts:
GU24Mum · 30/09/2021 09:45

Ah, thought it would be Surrey - that's where we are and it looks fairly similar!

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