thoughts on private roads

[chqshaitan]

Hi Guys,

I am taking the plunge to commute to work on my bike.

Did my first return run this afternoon and had to change my original route as it was not suitable for a bike , so ended up having to go down a private road.

Here is a link to the road in question. http://binged.it/XHfPac. its is the green dashed road in the centre, which i understand is a bridleway and is suitable for bikes.
It is the road off the m62 junction that leads past pestforlong moss, and new hall farm then omrod farm.
As you enter the road from the m62 junction there is a barrier(which is rarely closed) and a dilapidated sign that says private road.
I have mailed the council and await a confirmation of the situation but in the meantime wondered what your thoughts maybe on it?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Green dashes mean it is a public right of way and you are entitled to use it

 

[Matthew_T]

There is a road here which is private: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rh...=VKg9alK4SppLr58rmgZ03w&cbp=12,349.98,,0,3.95 but even Google SV has been down it.

 

[Brains]

Green dashes = Public right of way.
If anyone puts any form of non-openable or climbable barrier across the right of way it is your duty as a member of the public to remove it.

There was a well publicised situation a year or two ago at the Henley Regatta where posh marquees were erected on private land for paying guests across the footpath.
A team of walkers arrived mid party, cut through the tent wall, walked through the middle of the party, and then out the other side. The organisers did not have a leg to stand on.
Many of the more 'active' ramblers carry wire cutters as part of their standard kit for a day out in the countryside.
If you want to read up on your rights start by googleing the Kinder Trespass

 

[chqshaitan]

thanks guys, i thought i would be in the right legally but wanted to check the situation.

 

[BimblingBee]

It's is a public right of way but only as a footpath, no cycling allowed. You would have to find a bridleway in order to legally be able to ride on it.

Have a look here for the definitions... http://blog.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/2011/08/rights-of-way/

 

[400bhp]

thanks guys, i thought i would be in the right legally but wanted to check the situation.

Some of the locals around Irlam/Cadishead may know whether it is or isn't. I've never ventured that way (been part way down Dam Lane before) I'm pretty sure Skudupnorth has mentioned some of the off road type roads around there before?

I take it you're looking to get from the A57 to Birchwood?

Please come back if you give it a go as I'd be interested too (and what the roads are like).

 

[chqshaitan]

Some of the locals around Irlam/Cadishead may know whether it is or isn't. I've never ventured that way (been part way down Dam Lane before) I'm pretty sure Skudupnorth has mentioned some of the off road type roads around there before?

I take it you're looking to get from the A57 to Birchwood?

Please come back if you give it a go as I'd be interested too (and what the roads are like).

Hi Bud,

yea, i am trying to get from birchwood to irlam/cadishead. As the crow flies its about 6 miles, but when cycled today came closer to 8/9, as i got a bit lost / had to alter my route. If i can get to silver lane safely/easily , the rest is a breeze as its relatively quiet roads (although will confirm how busy it gets at peak times) to hollins green, then onto the a57 as you say.

i will let you know how i get on/find out

 

[chqshaitan]

It's is a public right of way but only as a footpath, no cycling allowed. You would have to find a bridleway in order to legally be able to ride on it.

Have a look here for the definitions... http://blog.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/2011/08/rights-of-way/

Hi,

My understanding is that it is brideway bud, as its the a long dash green line, not the dotted one.

 

[Tim Hall]

No,the one you link to (running past Pestfurlong Moss) is a public footpath. Those are short dashes. Google Street View at the Dam Lane end of things shows a public footpath sign.

 

[coffeejo]

On Ordnance Survey maps, the colours and shapes of the dashes/blobs change according to the scale.

1:25 000 scale maps (Explorer series) have footpaths as short green dashes, bridleways as longer green dashes, while cycle routes are orange blobs. The 1:50 000 scale (Landranger) swap the colours, so cycle routes are green but footpaths etc are orange.

 

[BimblingBee]

Hi,

My understanding is that it is brideway bud, as its the a long dash green line, not the dotted one.

No. its definitely a footpath. I don't know the area and you may find that the landowner tolerates bikes, however its always worth knowing what your rights/responsibilities are before getting into an argument with farmers!!

As for arrows, if you are not sure yellow means footpath and blue bridleway... :-)

 

[David Haworth]

Hmm.. Please come back and report your findings I live in birchwood so I'm interested to hear. I've been a bit up silver lane but only to pick up the right hand turn up the hill into gorse covert as that's a cycle path listed (I think) on the Warrington council cycle path map. Not been further down silver lane as I was unsure of the legality, where it practically led, what the surface was like and whether I was likely to be shouted at or had the hounds set on me

 

[Glow worm]

you may find that the landowner tolerates bikes, however its always worth knowing what your rights/responsibilities are before getting into an argument with farmers!!

Talking to the landowner is always a sensible approach. There's an old disused railway line near here that's a private road at a place called Quy. This stretch is not even a footpathy/ bridleway but is a really handy link for a traffic free short cut and the surface is good. I wrote to the landowner asking for permision to use it and he called me right back saying no problem at all - it's only cars (fly tipping etc) he has trouble with. Now when he sees me he even stops his truck so as not to spray me with dust as I go by- top bloke!

 

[Crankarm]

No. its definitely a footpath. I don't know the area and you may find that the landowner tolerates bikes, however its always worth knowing what your rights/responsibilities are before getting into an argument with farmers!!

As for arrows, if you are not sure yellow means footpath and blue bridleway... :-)

"Ger-off my laand!"