The British Horse Society welcomes landmark ruling on cattle-grid obstruction

The British Horse Society welcomes a high court ruling that a council may not lawfully authorise a cattle-grid across the full width of a footpath or bridleway.

Mr Alan Kind, who edits the journal of the Byways and Bridleways Trust, had served a statutory notice on Northumberland County Council to remove the cattle grid, which obstructed the bridleway at Capheaton, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Following several legal battles Mr Kind, with the support of The British Horse Society, the Byways and Bridleways Trust, the Open Spaces Society and others, appealed to the High Court, who ruled that the cattle grid was an illegal obstruction.

Mark Weston, Director of Access, Safety and Welfare at The British Horse Society, said: “The Society was glad to support Mr Kind with this test case which supports the Kidner decision in 2010 and goes a long way towards establishing firm and clear guidance on obstructions to rights of way and the duty on highway authorities to take simple, firm and prompt action to put things right.”

For further press information and pictures, please contact our Press Officer: Alison Coleman, The British Horse Society, 02476 840463 or a.coleman@bhs.org.uk 

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