Parish council explains objection to horse bridleway in Telford
Public inquiry deemed a cost to taxpayers and strain on older witnesses
The Gorge Parish Council has clarified its reasons for objecting to horses using a path in Telford after losing its case at a public inquiry.
The dispute involved the Telford Bridleways Association (TBA) and centred on the usage of a path known as 'Ginny Rails' on School Lane in Coalbrookdale.
Sally-Anne Robinson of TBA criticised the inquiry as an unnecessary expense: “As the parish council missed several opportunities to object to this application I do feel strongly that a public inquiry could have been avoided."
She added, “It’s a cost to taxpayers and also a strain on those people attending to provide evidence that they used the route on horseback.”
Safety Concerns Highlighted
The parish council's objection was based on safety concerns, with a spokesperson pointing out the “very narrow width of this path" and potential dangers when families, cyclists, and horses meet where there's no safe shelter.
Planning inspector Claire Tregembo, however, ruled that these concerns could not legally be considered: “Although I understand these concerns, I am unable to legally take safety issues into consideration when determining the order.”
Tregembo also noted that there were no reported conflicts between walkers and horse riders, and interaction was mostly positive.
Ensuring Future Paths
The parish council expressed commitment to recording public footpaths in The Gorge as definitive or permissive for the benefit of pedestrians, families, and wheelchair users.
Some paths remain designated specifically for cyclists and horse riders, while others allow various uses.
The TBA welcomed dialogue with parish councils to address what it calls a 'backlog' in bridleway applications.