Rights of Way

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NORTH EAST WALES

RIGHTS OF WAY

Welcome
Welcome to the launch of the Rights of Way section of the North East Wales Website. The aim is to provide both the latest items of interest as well as on going information for reference.

Your input will be appreciated as the subject covers a large area and individuals will know what is going on locally.

Please your questions as the need arises to AAC Edwina Hart.

Our Area covers the Counties of Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham where there seems to be a lack of understanding of the need for safe driving routes for carriage drivers. The aim of our Rights of Way is to provide information of routes to drive, areas of interest as well as gathering information for reference to be put to the Local Authorities and your input will be appreciated as the subject covers a large area and individuals will know what is going on locally. If we can identify safe routes used regularly by carriage drivers, and if funding was in place I would like to see a route leaflet produced so that everyone will have the opportunity to carriage drive these routes safely.
Discrepancies and anomalies are being unraveled on the Ordnance Survey definitive maps, and claims of old carriage routes are coming to light. It is a long and slow process. The hardest part is identifying users and routes in an area which is unknown to AC Janet or myself.

KENT GAP
With Restricted Byways (RB) becoming a possibility, local authorities will be looking for a means of preventing the illegal use
of them by motorised vehicles. One-way of course is to use a Kent Gap so called because Kent County Council used them to great effect for a number of years, of course there is one downside is that it does not prevent motor bikes but one variant is being used successfully at Coed Llandegla Forest where carriage drivers and horse riders can access the trails from the car park without opening gates.
What is a Kent Gap I hear you ask?
It essentially consists of a pair of smooth concrete or wooden bollards 0.33m - 0.38m high (13" to 15") and 1.52m apart (5') plus
a clear space of at least 0.6m (2') beside the bollards on one or both sides.

These bollards can be reinforced by further pairs 0.45m (18") in line with the first pair. Any remaining space between banks or fences can be filled with taller bollards. Bollards must be firmly set into the ground to discourage their removal. Most modern carriages will be able go inside or straddle the bollards with care. A few older carriages may have a difficulty, but if it opens up a route instead of it being closed, then this is a small price to pay.

An example of one in use with a modified design.

Rights of Way Improvement Plans.
All counties are tasked by Government to produce a Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
Wrexham have included carriage driving in their plan as a minor group.
Denbighshire & Flintshire are still in the process. Representation has been made to both Counties and hopefully carriage driving will be included.

LOCAL ACCESS FORUMS
Local Access Forums (LAFs) have been set up in Wales under Act of Parliament to advise local authorities, National Park authorities, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government about improving public access to land in their area for the purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area. In giving this advice LAFs must have regard to the needs of land management and the desirability of conserving the natural beauty of the area. The Forums normally hold about 4-6 meetings a year. The public are welcome to attend all meetings. Since their initial formation in 2002/03, the Forums have considered a wide range of issues. Their remit is large and they have advised on all forms of countryside access, including on foot, horseback, cycling and motorised off road access. They have spent much time advising on the planning and management of the new right of ‘open access’ and improvements to the local Rights of Way network. They have also considered how to tackle problems such as the damage caused by the illegal use of motorised vehicles in the countryside and possible conflicts between access and nature conservation. To find out more about the LAF in your area you can attend one of their meetings or obtain a copy of their annual report. LAFs generally recruit every three years. However, vacancies can arise at any time. There are no set criteria for membership but members should be committed to the function of the LAF to advise on the improvement of public access and they should be willing and able to play a full part in all aspects of a Forum’s work. Members are generally selected because of their ability, through knowledge and experience, to represent the interests of at least one group of access users, land managers or owners, or other issues relevant to access such as conservation or tourism. It is desirable that members reside in, are particularly familiar with, or have any other interests especially relevant to, the area of the Forum.

GREENWAY PROJECT
AC Janet attended a meeting last Wednesday re the Greenway Project, which is at the embryo stage. The Greenway project is going to use the old railway line from Mold to Saltney for cyclists, walkers and horse riders and again carriage drivers were not in their thoughts. I asked if we were going to be included and their first thought was that we would take up to much room and there would not be enough room for everyone to pass and a major issue was if they let carriage drivers on how would they keep motor bikes off so we need to come up with hard evidence that these railway lines are wide enough for all users, quote other areas where they are used successfully by carriage drivers how these areas police motor bikes and most of all are there any members that use any part of this old railway line to drive along. There are three other areas they are looking at in the future the old lines Mold to Denbigh, Bala and possibilities of Mold to Coed Talon.

DISUSED RAILWAY LINES
We need to be at the beginning of the planning stages old railway lines would be ideal to drive along safely without traffic. If we do not act now it these tracks will be lost forever to carriage drivers. Please help and also if you know of any disused lines in our Area (Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham North Powys) that are being used by horse riders or could be used let me know so we can approach the relevant authority to gain access.