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Council DMMO's DMMOs Route maintenance Uncategorized

Council to repair and reopen bridleway at Kingswood

The SSBA recently worked with South Somerset County Council with regards to issues along some of our bridleways. The responce we received is below. Thank you to those who brought the issues to our attention and to the Rights of Way Area Wardens for their help in keeping these vital routes open.

An update following my visit to Kingswood Farm last week. I have spoken to the landowner at Kingswood about us having reports that riders were being turned away from his farm and yes the Bridleway is still closed at the junction of Y 10/29 & Y 10/27 to Marsh Farm. 

We are going to carry our works along the bridleway from Common Lane to the Dorset border beyond Whitevine Farm which I will list below. (I have the works scheduled in for this month)
Where the B/W starts at common lane there will be a new bridleway gate installed beside the cattle grid.

Where the locked gate is there is now a wide gap this will remain but there will be a section of post and rail fence alongside the stream. Any other gates would have new easy opening arms fitted.

Going towards Whitevine Farm there has been a small gate fitted by the landowner but there is a ditch close to it, the ditch will be piped and a proper B/W gate will be installed the works here will be carried out by the landowner of Whitevine Farm.

Works to the gates going to Marsh Farm will not be done whilst it is under a closure notice, [we] will update you with the situation regarding the dangerous bridge and this closure.

DMMO's DMMOs New Routes

Riders and carriage drivers of Broadway…… (UPDATED)

The SSBA applied for DMMOs for these routes:

  • Dingford Farm to Long Drove (bridleway)
  • Long Drove (bridleway)
  • Hare Lane to Long Drove (bridleway)
  • Hare Lane to Barrington Hill (restricted byway)

The four DMMOs applied for by the SSBA for the above routes will be considered by Somerset County Council’s Regulation Committee at a meeting in Taunton on Thursday 6th February 2020 at 10am.

NEW VENUE: JMR, The Deane House, Taunton TA1 1HE

Details of upcoming meetings of the Regulation Committee can be viewed on Somerset County Council’s website: www.somerset.gov.uk/regulationcommittee.

Anyone can attend the meeting but if you wish to speak you must inform Peter Stiles, the Committee Administrator by 5.00pm three clear working days before the meeting: democraticservices@somerset.gov.uk or 01823 357628 (i.e. 5.00pm on the Friday before the meeting). More information can be found here or get in touch with us if you would like to pass on a comment.

New Routes

Proposed creation of a public bridleway over land in Donyatt

Somerset County Council (SCC) is proposing to create a route as a public bridleway over land which was excluded from the recent SCC farm sale and would be pleased to receive your comments.

The lawful width of the route will be restricted to a maximum of 3m throughout except where it passes through existing field gates and a 1.5m wide gate will be installed adjacent to the existing field gate at location A (see plan below). The final position of the gate is to be confirmed following this consultation.

The proposed bridleway route is shown on the plan below.

Please do send your comments or questions on this proposal to Mr Loren Eldred, SCC Rights of Way Officer by the 20th December 2019: LEldred@somerset.gov.uk

AGMs, talks and member events

AGM and talk “Weird tales of Bridleways”

Please do come along to our AGM on Tuesday 22nd October at the Wyndham Arms, Kingsbury Episcopi TA12 6AT at 7.30pm.

This will be followed by our speaker Caroline Baldock who was one of the first women to be granted a professional jockeys licence. She will entertain us with “Weird tales of Bridleways”.

We’d love to see as many of you there as possible.

Rides

Stourhead and Penselwood Read and Ride Sunday 6th October

A 9 mile ride through the Stourhead estate with wonderful scenery and woodland tracks. This is a read and ride route; you will be given a map and written instructions. £12.00 per rider.

Start time 9.30am, last rider to start no later than 10.45am.

To book your place phone Penny Varnes on 01747 840680 or 07494 895940

Complete the entry form here and bring it with you or email to pvarnes2@gmail.com

Directions to venue, Bonham Airfield in Bells Lane, Stourton:

Grid Reference 780336

From the west, A303 take the Tinkers Hill exit east of Wincanton signed for Gillingham and Blandford. Turn right at the T junction and follow the road to Zeals. Turn left signed to St Martin’s Business Park. Parking is on the left after approximately 1 mile.

From Frome, take the B3092 turn right to Stourhead, then left into Bells Lane. Parking is a short distance on the right.

Recommendations Wildlife

Saving Swallows

Nancy (one of our members) was shocked to find that one of the two swallows nesting in her barn had become tangled and died in a loop of binder twine which was included in the nest.

Perhaps due to the dry spring, not enough mud was foundfor nest building.

So the message is, please collect and put away all the odd bits of twine from hay bales.

Swallows nesting in stables are precious to us.

Rides

Westmoor Read and Ride – 30th June 2019

Read and Ride around Westmoor, between Kingsbury Episcopi and Hambridge on Sunday 30th June 2019.

About 8 miles, some road to start and finish. Mostly droves and canal paths.

Level and easy to map read as all straight lines.

Starts 09:30 to 11:00 – £5 per horse and rider.

Book with Belinda Burne – 01460 240360

Please book in with Belinda Burne on 01460 240360 before Saturday 29th so that we know how many maps to bring.

Hi-viz to be worn please.

Trailers are ok to squeeze carefully through to the parking field. Lorries need a space booked nearby.

The ground for this ride has probably been unusually dry, now after a stormy week some of it may be soggy. We will check before the ride.