Riders frustrated and accuse council of stalling grid removal and reclassification bid

Last autumn Calderdale Council had informed local rising groups who raised the issue that a cattle grid which had illegally placed on a section of Hanging Stones Lane at Ripponden 40 years earlier would be removed.

Riders welcomed the news and hoped they would soon be able to use the route, which they have also made subject of a bid to reclassify it as a restricted byway, meaning they could use it.

But an officer for the Moorlands Riding Group, who did not wish to be named, said the grid was still there, with some concrete infill over part of it but still unsuitable for horses to pass along the lane.

She claims residents close by have approached the council to ask that the cattle grid remain, retaining their privacy, and because of this pressure the council has stayed the removal of the grid.

The officer called this a “delaying tactic” to prevent horse riders from using the route, has submitted a formal complaint to the council and says her next step will be to take it to the Local Government Ombudsman.

“The council is now using our separate attempts to have the lane correctly recorded as a bridleway or restricted byway as an excuse not to remove the cattle grid and, though related, in law the two issues are totally separate,” she said.

However, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), said the issue is legally complex.

“The council is investigating the application to modify the recorded status of the public footpath, Ripponden 51, known as Hanging Stones Lane, to restricted byway.

“There are complex legal processes involved in any decision to change the status of a public right of way.

“A previous application in 1998 to reclassify the footpath as a bridleway was refused by the planning inspectorate following a public inquiry.

“The latest application is currently being considered, as directed by the planning inspectorate and we’re working with consultants to verify the validity of this claim.

“These things take time and it is important that all of the proper legal processes are followed and that local landowners are consulted,” she said.

Coun Scullion added: “The cattle grid at the location has been investigated, and in the lane’s current status as public footpath it is not classed as being an obstruction as the section of the grid which is part of the public footpath has been filled in to allow access.

“However, the bollards that had been placed on top of the filled in section of cattle grid were an obstruction and have subsequently been removed.”