News and Petitions

What the association is currently campaigning for and news about our activities and events.

Our committee meets monthly at
The Marsden Room at the Quaker Meeting Rooms, Sussex Wharf, Devizes.
Start 7:30pm

Everyone is welcome to come along

Recent Meeting Minutes
wba_mm_120325.pdf
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wba-mm-120225.pdf
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Meeting Dates for 2025
Wednesday 9th April
Wednesday 14th May
Wednesday 11th June
Wednesday 9th July
Wednesday 13th August
Wednesday 10th September
Wednesday 8th October
Wednesday 12th November
Wednesday 10th December
 DMMO Applications
The Wiltshire Council Castle Combe 7 and Yatton Keynell 25 Diversion and Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2023
Following the making of the above-mentioned order,  Wiltshire Council are in receipt of 7 objections to the order, which have not been withdrawn. The order now falls to be considered by the Wiltshire Council’s Northern Area Planning Committee, whose members will consider the objections received against the legal tests for the making and confirmation of a public path diversion order, as set out under section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 in order to determine whether or not Wiltshire Council continues to support the making and confirmation of the order. If members determine that Wiltshire Council support the confirmation of the order it will be forwarded to the Secretary of State for determination.
The matter is provisionally scheduled to be considered by the Northern Area Planning Committee at their meeting to be held on
Wednesday 22nd January 2025 commencing at 15:00, the venue is Town Hall, High Street, Chippenham, SN15 3ER.
castle_combe_7_and_yatton_keynell_25_dmmo_2023.pdf
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castle_combe_7_and_yatton_keynell_25_sealed_order.pdf
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The Wiltshire Council Grafton 13 and Tidcombe and Fosbury 11 Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2024

Thanks again to our historical advisor, Bill Riley, who works behind the scenes to produce evidence that ensure many of the paths in Wiltshire are recorded correctly.

Notice of Confirmation of a Modification Order
Section 53 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Wiltshire Council
The Definitive Map and Statement for the Marlborough and Ramsbury Rural District Council Area Dated 1952 as Modified Under the Provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 The Wiltshire Council Grafton 13 and Tidcombe and Fosbury 11 Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2024
The above order was confirmed on 14th January 2025 as made, it will modify the definitive map and statement for the area by upgrading footpath Grafton 13 to restricted byway status and recording its width as between 3 and 20 metres, approximate length 2.6 km and upgrading footpath Tidcombe and Fosbury 11 to restricted byway status with a width of 18.3 metres ( 60 ft), approximate length 365 metres. The route of the paths lead from OS grid reference SU 27297 58836 at Wexcombe, SN8 3SQ, south, south easterly to SU 28579 56217.
A copy of the order and the order plan may be seen free of charge at the Definitive Map and Highway Records, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN , 0900 - 1700 weekdays by appointment. To make an appointment please email [email protected]. Electronic
copies may also be requested by emailing [email protected]
The Order became operative as from 14th January 2025 but if any person is aggrieved by the Order and desires to question the validity on the ground that it is not within the powers of section 53 or that any of the requirements of Schedule 15 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have
not been complied with in relation to it, they may within 42 days from 23rd January 2025 make an application under paragraph 12 (1) of Schedule 15 to the 1981 Act, to the High Court.
Notice published 23rd January 2025
Wiltshire Council

Upgrading to Restricted Byway, the Bridleways (SEEN40 & ROWD20) which run from Point A on the application map (OSGR ST 94151 62604), the junction of Colbourne Lane and Bridleway SEEN41, to Point D (OSGR ST 95795 62785) at the junction with Berhills Lane.

This application has been submitted by the BHS, utilising research undertaken by our intrepid historical advisor, Bill Riley, and documented in his publication NOT THE DEFINITIVE STATEMENT.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Section 53

The application documents are available to view online on Wiltshire Council’s register of DMMO applications which can be found at
The attached application has been received from Wiltshire Council to the WBA committee. The response has been requested by no later than Thursday 19 Sep 25.
 
The DMMO covers both SEEN40 & ROWD20.
WC quote that SEEN40 has a current recorded width of 9.5mtrs. (I cannot check this as I do not have a copy of the Definitive Statement to hand.)
ROWD20, a continuation of SEEN40, has no recorded width on the Definitive Statement, but the claimed width of between 20 - 24mtrs is the approximate width on the ground between the boundary hedgerows of both bridleways.
 
The Public Path Order, application to reduce the width of a specific length is recorded under P/2023/011, dtd as received by WC on 22 Jun 23. The Application for public path order documentation competed by WC, refers firstly to extinguishment of width, currently 20-25mtrs and secondly to Reduce recorded width from 20-25mtrs. (See info above relating to recorded width.)
 
Consider the DEFRA guidance on diversion or extinguishment as recorded in the WC covering letter. Does the PROW currently pass through the buildings/farm yard?
 
The application documents are available to view online on Wiltshire Council’s register of DMMO applications which can be found at:
https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/RightsOfWay/Map/Detail/ZvlepoJY?row=D2021039
Photographs 6674 & 6675. View East - West along SEEN40. Also 6675 indicates correct line of BR across end of building, & current diversion around bushes. (see WC on-line PROW mapping)
 
Photograph 6676. Continuation West along SEEN40 after passing buildings. (SEEN40 passes through 'rubbish area' not along track. (See WC on-line PROW mapping) 
 
Photograph 6677. View North along SEEN42 from jct with SEEN40.
 
Photographs 6678 & 6679. Not clear from map which side of fence diverted access to SEEN42 will pass.
 
Photograph 6680. View North along ORPA towards Broad Lane Farm.
 
Photograph 6681. Jct A365 (Bath Rd) and ORPA with advertising board for Units to Let at Broad Lane Farm. 

This application has been submitted by the BHS, utilising research undertaken by our intrepid historical advisor, Bill Riley, and documented in his publication NOT THE DEFINITIVE STATEMENT.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Section 53  Application to record bridleway rights over part of Drove Lane, Market Lavington, Wiltshire, SN10 4NT.

Wiltshire Council are in receipt of an application, dated 21st July 2020, to modify the Definitive Map and Statement for the area, by adding a bridleway in the parish of Market Lavington from Kings Road at grid reference SU01085533 approximately south – eastwards along Drove Lane to grid reference SU0142954966 and shown on the map accompanying the application ( application map enclosed with this letter). The application
route is marked by a dashed red line between points A and B. A bridleway is a highway over which the public is entitled to travel on foot, horseback and pedal cycles.
The application is accompanied by a summary of historical evidence submitted by the applicant in support of the claim of public rights over the route ( summary enclosed with this letter). The Council is now placed under a duty to investigate the available evidence to determine whether or not public bridleway rights (or a different status) subsist over the route and the extent of those public rights, and to amend the definitive map and statement accordingly if public rights are found to subsist.
Your comments on this matter are therefore invited and I would be grateful to receive any further evidence which you may have regarding the status of the route in question, or any comments or representations regarding the application. The council may only consider evidence as to what public rights may subsist over the route , matters such as the need, desire, environmental and safety matters are not able to be considered as part of this process.
I would be grateful to receive any additional information, comments or representations on this matter, in writing, to [email protected] or to the address at the top of this letter not later than Friday 11th October 2024.

The application documents are available to view online on Wiltshire Council’s register of DMMO applications which can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recreation-rights-of-way.

The application reference is D/2020/10.  https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/RightsOfWay/Map
d-2020-10_applicants_summary_of_evidence.pdf
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Application to upgrade bridleway Calne Without 89 (CALW89) to a restricted byway
(ref: D/2022/020)
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 modifying the Definitive Map and Statement for the area by:
a) Upgrading to Restricted Byway the bridleway CALW89 which runs from Point A on the application map (OSGR SU 02531 68925), at the junction between the public highway at Theobalds Green, in the Parish of Calne Without and proceeds along the bridleway CALW89 in a southerly direction along the lane to Point C (OSGR SU 02396 68471) at the junction between the bridleway and the public highway in the Village of Calstone Wellington. With a width of: approximately 7m and shown on the map accompanying this application.
Copies of the following documentary evidence in support of this application, namely extracts of:
i. Andrew and Drury’s Map of Wiltshire (1773)
ii. Ordnance Survey 1st Edition Map (1805)
iii. Inclosure Plan for Calne, Calsone Wellington and Compton Bassett (1818)
iv. Map of the parish of Calstone Wellington (1830)
v. Tithe map of Calstone Wellington (parish), Wiltshire (1844)
vi. Ordnance Survey 25” County Series Map Sheet Wiltshire XXVII.10 (1886)
vii. Ordnance Survey 6” County Series Map Sheet Wiltshire XXVII (1889)
viii. Ordnance Survey 1” Map Sheet 266 & 157 (1889 & 1947)
ix. Map prepared in connection with the Finance (1909-10) Act 1910
x. Bartholomew’s Half-Inch Maps of England and Wales (1902 & 1942)
xi. Map produced from HM Land Registry INSPIRE database (2022)

The above-named application has now been determined by Wiltshire Council. The application has been refused in full.
The full officers decision report explaining the decision, its appendices and other documents can be viewed on Wiltshire Councils website at the following link. D/2022/020 - Rights Of Way - Wiltshire Council.
 
The applicant has a right to appeal the refusal of their application to the Secretary of State under schedule 14 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 within 28 days of the date of the decision letter from the authority , 19th June 2024.
Planning Application involving two Bridleways and  two Public Footpaths around the Potterne Park, Wiltshire.
Wiltshire Bridleways Association has writen to express its concerns, ask for clarify and object to the proposed solar farm project at Potterne Park Farm.
To have you say, please comment using this link:
Planning Application: PL/2023/10332 (wiltshire.gov.uk)
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Order which has been submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation.
ROW/3328674 Wiltshire Council Ramsbury 9B, 44, 71 & 72 and Mildenhall 16 Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2022

Notice is hereby given that the above referenced Order has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for determination. An Inspector will be appointed by the Secretary of State to determine the Order.
The start date for the above Order is 10 December 2024.

Puthall Park
Axford
Ramsbury
Mildenhall
Stitchcombe
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Parish of Ramsbury Path nos. 5,6 and 8C and Parish of Little Bedwyn path no.20 Diversion and Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2024.

The Wiltshire Council Ramsbury 9A and 9B (part) Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2024

Notice of Modification Order
Section 53 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Wiltshire Council
The Definitive Map and Statement for the Marlborough and Ramsbury Rural District Council Area dated 1952 as Modified under the Provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wiltshire Council Ramsbury 9A and 9B (part) Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2024
The above order, made on 16 December 2024, if confirmed as made, will modify the definitive map and statement for the area by upgrading bridleway Ramsbury 9A to a restricted byway (length approx. 270 metres, width as per the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map sheet 29.11 1885) from its junction with Ramsbury paths 43, 9 and 8 at Southside Cottage to its junction with Ramsbury paths 52 and 9B at Briary Wood and by upgrading part of footpath Ramsbury 9B to a restricted byway from the junction with 9A at Briary Wood for approximately 314 metres with a width of 10.1 metres to Axford Lane grid ref. SU238691(where it continues unchanged west south west as a footpath) and as shown on the Order plan.
A copy of the order and the order plan may be seen free of charge at the Rights of Way Section, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN 0900 - 1700 weekdays. Please contact S Madgwick [email protected]. Copies of the order and map may be bought there (£5).
Any representation or objection relating to this order must be sent in writing to S Madgwick, Rights of Way and Countryside, Wiltshire Council, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN [email protected] quoting ref. SAM/2019/001 Ramsbury 9A and 9B not later than 1700 on 28 February 2025, and applicants are requested to state the grounds on which it is made.
If no representations or objections are duly made to the order (or to any part of it), or if any so made are withdrawn, the Wiltshire Council, instead of submitting the order to the Secretary of State (or part of it if the authority has by notice to the Secretary of State so elected under paragraph 5 of Schedule 15 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) may itself confirm the order (or that part of the order). If the order is submitted to the Secretary of State for the Environment, in whole or in part, any representations or objections which have been duly made and not withdrawn will be sent with it.
Notice published 16 January 2025
The diversion order affecting paths Ramsbury 5,6,8C and Little Bedwyn 20 will be considered by the Eastern Area Planning Committee at its scheduled meeting on 13th June 2024 at 15:00 to be held in the Wessex Room, The Corn Exchange, Market Place, Devizes, SN10 1HS.
 
If you would like to address the committee or submit any further documents for the committee to consider please contact Matthew Hitch, Democratic services officer, using [email protected]. ( please note this email address was incorrectly transcribed in the previous emails regarding the committee meeting).
 
The agenda and reports for the meeting will be published tomorrow on Wiltshire Councils website and can be found using the following link . Meeting - Democratic Services - Wiltshire Council

Public rights of way at Giant’s Grave, Pewsey Wiltshire

We are looking for user evidence for the cul-de-sac bridleway leading towards Giant’s Grave, Rainscombe.
Horse riders and cyclists face frustrations in this area as although there are a good number of bridleways, it is impossible to link those south of Giant’s Grave with those to the north due to the status of routes being footpaths currently. The footpaths which are aligned North-South and dovetail into the bridleway are PEWS23 are SAVE30 & 32, plus PEWS61 & 68.
The original def. map (1952) showed footpaths and a bridleway in this area in the same way as they are recorded now.  However, during the Second and Special Review held in 1972 Wiltshire County Council proposed to downgrade the bridleway section of PEWS23 to a footpath.  This was objected to and eventually, the matter was considered at a public inquiry with the Inspector deciding that it should stay as it is.  So, sort of a victory!  Please see attached for the Inspector’s report.

If you have any recollection of using these footpaths on a bike or with hooves, please report this to us directly so we can provide your evidence to support higher rights.  Please include approximate dates of use, type of use, and regularity of use for example from July 1995 to Oct 2023 at least twenty times each year on a  bike. If you have tracking records such as Strava or Equilab, those will be very helpful.
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Notice of Confirmation of Modification Order Section 53 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Definitive Map and Statement for the Pewsey Rural District Council Area dated 1952 as Modified under the Provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wiltshire Council Charlton St. Peter 2,6 and Wilsford 5 Definitive Map and Statement Modification Order 2023
On 13th March 2025, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed as made the above-named order made under Section 53 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The above named order, made on 22nd February 2023, modifies the definitive map and statement for the area by upgrading, footpath Charlton St. Peter 6 to restricted byway status ( approximate length 190 metres, width between 5 and 9 metres) ,and two sections of bridleway Charlton St. Peter 2 to restricted byways status from SU 10710 56598 to SU 11162 55941 ( approximate length of 880 metres and a width of
12.2 metres ) and the section from SU 11432 56024 to SU 11471 56052
(approximate length 50 metres, width of between 7 and 14 metres), and also upgrading bridleway Wilsford 5 to the status of restricted byway ( approximate length 475 metres, width of 6.1 metres).

A copy of the confirmed order and the order plans may be seen free of charge at Definitive Map and Highway Records, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Monday to Friday by appointment. To book an appointment to view the Order or receive an electronic copy of the Order please contact Craig Harlow, Definitive Map Officer, e-mail
[email protected] or tel: 01249 468568. A copy of the order and inspectors decision report is also available on Wiltshire Councils website on the rights of way section in the DMMO register www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recreation-rights-of-way under application references D/2011/03 and D/2021/105.

The Order becomes operative as from 13th March 2025, but if any person aggrieved by the Order desires to question the validity on the ground that it is not within the powers of Section 53 or that any requirements of Schedule 15 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 have not been complied with in relation to the Order, he or she
may within 42 days from 27th March 2025 make an application under paragraph 12(1) of Schedule 15 of the 1981 Act, to the High Court.
Notice Dated 27 March 2025
sealed_confirmed_order_and_plan_cstp26_and_w5.pdf
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inspectors_decision_report_charlton_st._peter_26_and_wilsford_5.pdf
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This is another Order that Bill Riley our historical Advisor has been working on securing for roughly 14 years.
THANK YOU, BILL!

Please view DMMO D/2011/03 where you will find details of the original research  and application submitted by Bill Riley, plus the follow up research completed by Craig Harlow of Wilts Council, along with a copy of the Decision Report by the Inspector, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Historical Evidence Guidance Notes produced by Alan Kind on behalf of the BHS
This guidance paper aims to help you make submissions in respect of historical documentary evidence when submitting definitive map modification applications, and at public inquiries and hearings.
In the opening paragraph of the document, BHS make reference to the publication 'Rights of Way, Restoring the Record' Second edition.
The Wiltshire Bridleways Association hold copies of both the First & Second edition of that document, published 2012 & 2017 respectively. Should anyone wish to read these, do contact our Chairman directly.

british_horse_society_guidance_-_historical_evidence_guidance_jan_2025.pdf
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Gates  with issues that we are aware of:

2.11 (2.12) Broad Town BR25 - no information, ongoing. (RP)
2.12 (2.13) All Cannings BR20 + Stanton St Bernard BR10 - NB said that Stephen Leonard (SL) had stated that the gate was not required for stock control and that, together with the landowner, consideration is being given to its removal. Ongoing.
2.13 (2.14) Longbridge Deverill BR2 - NB said that Ben Braine (BB) and Vicky Roscoe (VR) were to conduct a site visit on 5th September and that the results of that visit were awaited.
2.14 (2.15) Collingbourne Kingston BR1B - no information, ongoing. (RP)
2.15 (2.16) Melksham Without BR87 - NB said that Paul Millard (PM) had not been at the meeting with CC. EH said that she had been to look at this and there was still a strand of barbed wire there.
2.16 (2.17) Longbridge Deverill BR9 - NB said BB and VR were to conduct a site visit on 5th September and that the results of that visit were awaited.
2.17 (2.18) Berwick St John BR14 - NB said that he was still waiting to visit this one, ongoing.
2.18 (2.19) Huish BR14 - NB undertook to go and look at this, ongoing.
2.19 (2.20) The Lane which runs from Hinton Parva to Horpit in the Swindon/Wanborough area - RP had informed NB that she was still waiting for a reply from Martin Fry (MF) of Swindon Borough Council (SBC).

Look at the latest minutes for the abbreviations of committee member initials!

PEWS6 Dursden Lane Bridleway Improvements Completed
This has been a work in progress for almost five years for the WBA commitee, so we are delighted to see the results and hope many more people will continue to enjoy this route.
OPEN SPACES SOCIETY NEWS RELEASE
 
OPEN SPACES SOCIETY URGES WILTSHIRE COUNCIL TO CURE BYWAY-BLOCKAGE EPIDEMIC
 
The Open Spaces Society(1), Britain’s oldest national conservation body, is urging Wiltshire Council to deal with the epidemic of blockages on Wiltshire’s byways.
 
Under the current law, byways may not be obstructed by structures such as gates, and the highway authority (Wiltshire Council) may not authorise their presence.  Nor may byways be ploughed or planted with crops.  Yet the society has found disgraceful blockages in Wiltshire, including foot-stiles on restricted byways, whose entitled users include walkers, cyclists, riders, and horse-drawn vehicles.
 
In 2024 alone the society has notified Wiltshire Council of over 30 such structural obstructions in seven different parishes (and there are many more to be reported).  It has proposed a timetable for Wiltshire Council to bring about the removal of those obstructions.  So far this year, following a statutory notice from the Open Spaces Society, just one unauthorised set of gates has been removed, from a byway near Warminster.
 
The society has also written several times to the Head of Highways at Wiltshire Council asking him to use his statutory powers to enforce the protection of specific byways from ploughing and the planting of crops.  The society has received no reply, and the routes continue to be ploughed and cropped in open defiance of the law.
 
Says Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society: ‘Wiltshire has a wonderfully extensive rights-of-way network, with many byways which provide opportunities for a multiplicity of users to enjoy this beautiful county on foot, horseback, bike, and horse-and-carriage.
 
‘Wiltshire Council has a legal duty to protect and assert the rights of the public to use these rights of way. This is not happening though, evidenced by over 30 significant byway obstructions in seven parishes.
 
‘We urge Wiltshire Council to do better and we intend fully to play our part in holding it to account,’ Kate concludes.
 
ENDS
Attached photos:
1          Before: restricted byway RB BDEV 17 (May 2020).
2          After: clearance of unauthorised gates in Aug 24 (but still cropped).
 
Notes
 1          The Open Spaces Society was founded in 1865 and is Britain’s oldest national conservation body.  It campaigns to protect common land, village greens, open spaces and public paths, and people’s right to enjoy them.
 

WBA is a member of the Open Spaces Society and this is another avenue we use in our endeavour to persuade Wiltshire Council to honour their statutory duty in keeping Rights of Way clear and usable.

BDEV17 is aligned east - west. At the eastern end it extends onto CRIC8. Both routes are recorded as Restricted Byways but are subject to a DMMO to upgrade to Byway Open to all Traffic, (BOAT), submitted by Bill, and shown as received by Wilts Council on 1 May 2006. (DMMO 2006/012 refers). Other than this DMMO, neither RB has featured on the WBA radar.

Works in Progress.

May 2023
Working with Longleat Estate, Wiltshire Council Rights of Way & Countryside Team, Warminster Area Board, the Green Lane Association (GLASS), the Wiltshire Bridleway Association (WBA) and the Ramblers, the Salisbury Plain Rights of Way Volunteers (SPROWV) are helping improve the rights of way network on and adjacent to the Longleat Estate.

In 2022, two bridleways between Warminster & Corsley were linked with destination signs.
Sandy Lane, which links Warminster & Sutton Veny to Longbridge Deverill (Bridleways LDEV2, SVEN2 & SVEN3) was also signed.
Bridleway HORN4 benefitted from new signs too.

In a jointly funded project, destination signs are being installed on a number of rights of way (RoW) in Corsley, Longbridge Deverill & Horningsham over the next 2 years.
RoW with “higher rights” are taking priority but footpath problems near those bridleways & restricted  byways are also being looked at.
As a continuation of the Sandy Lane project, SPROWV worked with the Ramblers Heavy Gang to clear a 160m length of overgrown bridleway SVEN2 to give a wet weather alternative to SVEN3 which becomes very muddy when wet.
Many thanks to the volunteers who worked with Nigel Linge to enable all the improvements.

Charlton St Peter Bridleway No. 1 Renovations by
Wiltshire Council following the perseverance by WBA committee members.
Some recent improvements undertaken by Wiltshire Council following Wiltshire Bridleways Association applying pressure.
Wilsford Bridleway WILS8 Gate Improvements
New Signage for Etchilhampton
Picture
Wilsford Bridleway WISL8
Picture
Etchilhampton Bridleway ETCH8
Sharing Great Work by another Local Team who cares greatly about preserving and protecting our rights of way.

The Salisbury Plain Rights of Way (AWESOME) Volunteers completed a signing day in early April. They resolved 15 issues, a proportion that they came across, heading to the next known problem.
They are still developing a plan for permanent Voluntary Restraint signs (until a route is repaired). The Green Lane Association has agreed to pay for the signs. The plan is to seek funding from Area Boards for the posts, postcrete and fixings, but as this spans 8 x Area Boards, Nigel Linge, who heads op the team, is still working on how to do that.

Wiltshire Council has about 4,000 unresolved Right of Way reports. So the work undertaken by the Salisbury Plain RoW Volunteers for repairing/replacing some fallen/damaged/missing RoW signs in more remote areas is a very effective solution that you could support and utilise.

Did you know that by changing the signs to destination signs, parish councils can apply for Area Board grants to get the materials provided to fix issues and, therefore, greatly reduce the costs?

The Salisbury Plain RoW Volunteers generally get out about once a month and are now fairly well on top of the Plain remedial works. They hope to do some work in the Warminster area during the summer, so if you wish to help, please get in touch, and The Wiltshire Bridleways Association will connect you.
Volunteer Work

2022 Annual General Meeting Minutes are here for you to download and understand what your supporter's subscription helps achieve.
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR WBA AGM
ON THU 31 MARCH 2022
At our AGM on 21 March 2019, I commented that the committee had grown with the addition of two new members. Unfortunately,
in 2021 we shrank by two. Firstly Vicci Palmer moved to Devon. Secondly, Vicki Thomas, our Minutes Secretary Vicki Thomas stood down. We pass on our best wishes for the future to them both.
Through our newsletter, we advertised for a replacement secretary. Fortunately, Barbara Macmullen, our previous secretary with some 17 years in the post, volunteered to step back into the chair on a 'TEMPORARY', and I stress the word 'TEMPORARY' basis. I am most grateful to Barbara – Thank you.
The position of Minutes Secretary is still open. So please give this some serious thought and volunteer.

In 2019 the committee continued with their role of attending meetings with other agencies, Wiltshire and Swindon Community Access Forum, Wiltshire Council PROW Department, DIO (MOD), to name but three, travelling around the county to assess reported problems and submit relevant documentation to WC. We continued to examine and comment on applications for DMMO's, planning applications which affected PROW's etc.

As we approached March 2020, the bubble burst and COVID grounded us. A planned formal opening of the newly completed Imber Range Perimeter Path, a project in which WBA had been involved from the beginning, was postponed and subsequently cancelled, as was our own AGM for that same month.
Monthly meetings for the period March to August inclusive, plus November and December 2020 were also cancelled. We did manage to hold meetings in September and October, but these were strictly limited to six attendees. 2021 continued in the same vein, with five meetings only, from August to December inclusive.
Correspondence from WC and other organisations also dropped dramatically, and volunteer clearance groups were forbidden to operate.
However, people were still out for their one-hour permitted exercise and did send in reports, e.g., padlocked gates, even one where the gate had been nailed shut, plus the usual vegetation growth and fallen trees.

Recently I have heard whispers of more landowners denying the existence of PROW's across their land. These have still to be investigated. As for the reporting problems, please continue to do so to Wilts Council via the 'MyWilts' app and to WBA via our website. We may have additional information about your route, which could help further. Please don't turn a blind eye and leave it for someone else. Also, once reported, keep checking progress and any notes WC may have added. Some simply say, 'In Progress', and there they stay. Others say, 'Dead end' so will be a low priority or 'will deal when time allows'.

Over the last four years, WBA has made several approaches to Wilts council to offer some financial assistance towards paying contractors to carry out maintenance work. Responses invariably have been muted, e.g. "It may create accounting problems. It must be used for maintenance issues only, not enforcement. Deal directly with the individual Countryside Access Officer."
None of these has taken us any further forward. The PROW team have recently been taken under the umbrella of Highways, and the challenge is being taken forward by Michelle Haley, who appears to be making some headway.

On the subject of outstanding work, on Tue, 8 March 22, I attended a virtual CAF meeting where we heard from WC that they currently have a backlog of 4913 PROW reports. During the last year, 1348 have been recorded as completed/closed. At the same meeting, we also heard that after much lobbying the The government have dropped the requirement for DMMO application to be submitted by the 2026 deadline. In that context, it was reported that WC currently have an outstanding list of 347 DMMO's awaiting action. At the current rate of progress, WC estimate these will take between 50 – 60 years to clear.

As you are aware, our only source of income is membership fees and revenue from pleasure rides. No rides were held during 2020. However, despite all the difficulties and much hair pulling by Rosie Pack, our annual ride in Savernake Forest did take place. This was rather smaller than in previous years as the Forestry Commission limited attendees to 50 riders maximum. To Rosie and all her  Marshalls, thank you.

I hope you will join me in saying a big Thank You to all members of your committee for the number of voluntary hours they spend
devoted to your bridleways.

Norman Beardsley
Chairman

You could help us!
Become an Representative for your Area

There are many benefits of becoming a committee member or an Area Representative.
  • Prioritisation of issue resolution in your area
  • Fantastic, knowledgeable support from existing experienced committee members
  • Inclusion in all WBA meetings and copies of meeting minutes, i.e. total awareness of all issues, connections with influential decision-makers
  • Ability to offer your localised community support
  • Be happy knowing that you are contributing to preserving bridleways in your local vicinity for everyone.


If you can volunteer to support us and, in turn, your local riders, please get in touch here.

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