Campaigners welcome move to remove illegal cattle grid for historical Calderdale highway

Campaigners have welcomed moves by Calderdale Council towards removing an illegal cattle grid on a historical Ripponden highway.
Councillor Jane ScullionCouncillor Jane Scullion
Councillor Jane Scullion

The dispute over the grid, on Hanging Stones Lane, goes back more than 40 years, and now the campaigners, who include Calderdale Saddle Club, have also submitted an application to have the route reclassed as a restricted by-way, which would allow the route further along to be used by horse riders and cyclists.

One of the campaigners, who wished to remain anonymous, said the cattle grid had been installed by a nearby resident on the route – land they did not own.

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The position had changed recently as the resident was no longer there, and, as well as seeking removal of the grid, attention was also focused on the application for reclassification.

She said back in the 1950s the bridleway had been classed as a footpath, one of about 70 in the Ripponden area alone which camapigners believed authorities at that time had done to save on maintenance costs, a similar situation applying on many similar routes throughout the UK.

In the 1970s the former Ripponden Urban District Council had admitted Hanging Stones Lane had been wrongly recorded as a mere footpath and should have been recorded as a bridleway, said the campaigner.

So far attempts to get it reclassified have been unsuccessful, with riders being able to follow the route so far before they meet a “footpath” at a point along it.

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Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), said the council was investigating the application to modify the recorded status of the public footpath, Ripponden 51, known as Hanging Stones Lane.

“Changing the status of a public right of way is a complex process and involves investigating evidence about the route’s history and past use.

“We’re currently working with consultants to verify the validity of this claim and are receiving advice on how to proceed.

“We’re also looking into the removal of the cattle grid on this route, however, this also involves a strict, statutory process.

“The grid is still in place whilst we consider representations received following notification of its intended removal,” she said.

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