"I was pleased to see the MOD have been forced to have regard to our ancient highway laws. Congratulations to all concerned."

Says Maureen Comber

I was pleased to see the MOD have been forced to have regard to our ancient highway laws. Congratulations to all concerned.

May I suggest that the MOD also look at the common lands which are vested with them, as they should not be charging horse riders for rights they already have under sec 193/4 of the Law of Property Act 1925. The same goes for the Forestry Commission who hold forests with common rights.

However I was concerned to read how Bob Milton's horse had reacted to the cycling hoards.

Bob does medieval war enactment's on his steed so it is usually very tolerant in stressful situations. It makes me wonder if the use of cycles on bridleways should be re-examined as it is now getting on for half a century since cyclists were given the concession to ride bicycles on bridleways. This came about under the Countryside Act 1968 . The concession was given providing the cyclists gave way to horse riders and walkers. Until that time cycles were not allowed to even be pushed on bridleways! The concession was enabled before the birth of mountain bikes when few cyclists would wish to use bridleways in any event.

I think it is time for sec 30 to be looked at again in the light of the increase of cycling, the evolution of the mountain bike, and the growth of speed racing. Simply it is not safe or fair on horse riders. Bridleways should be for equestrians just like footpaths are for walkers, and it is grossly unfair that such small rights as we have are being taken from us by default and complete lack of regard for the law.

Equality must come into it somewhere so perhaps there should be some thought given to upgrading the 80% of Rights of Way which are designated footpaths, to bridleways. Many of them should be anyway which can clearly be seen from the Definitive Maps where there is a FP which turns into a BW and then back to a FP again, as it crosses between parishes.

Either way give us more bridleways or let cyclists keep to the metalled roads where even then they should still remember to have consideration for others.