Victory for horse riders as blocked bridleway reopens
A Lancashire man has been fined after denying riders access to a bridleway for more than 25 years.
William Ellison, 72, of Collin’s Hill Lane in Chipping, was found guilty on two charges of obstructing a bridleway running across his land. He was ordered to pay £200 for each obstruction, plus £600 costs at Preston magistrates court on 30 May.
British Horse Society (BHS) regional access officer Chris Peat hailed the court’s decision.
“This is a great victory,” she said. “This will hopefully send the message to other awkward landowners that making rights of way impossible to use by the public can be extremely expensive.”
www.bhs.org.uk
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A Cambridge graduate and big racing fan, Karen joined H&H in 2006 first as deputy news editor, and rose to managing editor, via a stint as acting editor of our sister title, Horse. Alongside being vet page editor and running our annual Young Rider special issue, she oversaw our media agreements, round table features, reader panel and more. Karen left Horse & Hound in 2014.