Good news! The order has been confirmed for River Drove in Somerton to be recorded as a bridleway. This is over 1.6 kilometres of definitive bridleway added to the map. Please see the notification below for details.
Somerton-River-Drove-confirmed-orderCategory: DMMOs
Save our Routes in Broadway!
South Somerset Bridleways Association meeting: Broadway Village Hall, TA19 9RX
Tuesday 25th February 7-9pm
Somerset County Council’s Regulation Committee turned down the SSBA’s applications for the Broadway routes on 6th February.
We would like to meet with those riders and carriage drivers that are disappointed in this decision to explain the legal process and why it is so important to save these routes.
The SSBA will appeal the decision. There is still hope that our rights to these routes may not be lost if enough riders and carriage drivers engage with the process.
Please join us on Tuesday and help us save these routes.
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.
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.
Does anyone ride the Langport Cycleway?
Please have a look at the Langport Cycleway Report here. If you ride the route we’d love to hear from you; it helps us to show there is no conflict between horse riders and other users and may help us to open up other routes for riding. Thank you for your help!

New Riding Route: Puckington to Stocklinch
Sommerset County Concil have confirmed the Puckington to Stocklinch DMMO submitted by SSBA.
The public right of way known as Gummer’s Lane has been upgraded to the status of restricted byway so we may now legally ride our horses along this route.

A303 Public right of way improvements to the north and east of Podimore
NOW CLOSED – PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND
Please fill out the form below – the more people respond saying they would use the new routes the more likely we are to get them!
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FSTW6F3
Historic Rights of Way Question for Short Debate Asked by Lord Greaves
Question for Short Debate
Asked by Lord Greaves
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress that has been made in the registration of historic rights of way and of the benefits of extending the cut-off date for their registration.
Read Full Transcript HERE