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A487 Tremadog to Penmorfa - Cycle and Pedestrian Link
Mike Vitkovitch has sent me an email outlining the proposal to Tarmac the Alltwen bridleway. I guess we need to pass this on to as many as possible so we can register our views.
These would include, Tarmac being an unsuitable surface for horses, Cyclist riding faster, presenting a hazard to pedestrians as well as riders, Hazardous when icy and as pointed out, if wear & tear was an issue, you only need to see forestry tracks to see that crushed slates is a durable & safe surface.
I’ve also attached a consultation document from Gwynedd County Council. All submissions for the new definitive map must be submitted by 2026. So I guess we need to submit as many bridleway routes to the council which are either closed, blocked or inaccessible. I’ve extracted 2 key points from the report below
On Page 3 of the Assessment Phase Consultation Report May 2006 it reads –
1.1 The rights of way network in Gwynedd
The public rights of way network in Gwynedd is approximately 3800km long. The total network length can be broken down into a number of different categories of routes, as set out below:-
• Footpaths - 3318km
• Bridleways - 301km
• Restricted Byways – 79km
• Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) – 39km
According to law, all public rights of ways are highways. The nature of the right determines the type of right of way, as explained below:-
• Footpaths are highways over which the right of way is on foot only.
• Bridleways are highways over which the right of way is on foot, riding or leading
a horse and on a bicycle. There may also be a right to drive animals (driftway rights) depending on evidence.
• Restricted Byways are highways which carry a right of way on foot, on horseback
or leading a horse and a right of way for vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles.
• Byways Open to All Traffic are highways over which the right of way is on foot, horseback or bicycle, including horse-drawn and motorised vehicles. BOATS
differ from roads only in that they are primarily used for walking and riding rather than by vehicles. There is also a developing network of off-road cycle routes (designed specifically for walking and cycling) which fall into none of the above categories. It is estimated that 51km of traffic-free cycle paths are currently available, some of which contribute to the National Cycle Network.
On Page 21 –
7.4.2 Horse-riders and carriage drivers
The British Horse Society estimates that around 4.5% of the UK population are regular horse riders. There are currently no estimates for the number of carriage drivers. Despite equestrians’ reliance on them, bridleways and higher rights network tend to be
fragmented, and they are frequently forced to use sealed roads. In some areas there may be quiet lanes that horse-riders may use, but more usually they are forced on to busy roads that are unsuitable for horses. Despite there being a network of lightly-trafficked highways in some areas of Gwynedd, it is difficult for horse-riders to find attractive, convenient and safe networks of routes. Local research shows that less than 4% of 1200 gates surveyed could be opened without dismounting with 30% of cattle grid bypass gates being difficult or impossible to open (“Bridleroutes in Snowdonia”, BHS, 2002), a factor which can quickly discourage use of a route. Equestrians felt that choice of appropriate surface was an issue. Slippy tarmaced minor roads, deep ruts and muddy/boggy routes were considered to be significant hazards for horses. Other issues such as insufficient head clearance from overhanging trees and vegetation encroaching on the path surface were also considered to be problems.
Might be an idea to ask for a copy of the current definitive map – I gather requesting the Holy Grail would be easier!
Finally below is the address for Derec Morgan, highway Committee.
Derec Morgan
Principal Engineer
Gwynedd Consultancy
Gwynedd Council
Swyddfeydd y Sir
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 1SH