Category: P2 – Mounts to Crumpsbrook

New Route Open !!!

permissive-route

The new permissive route joining the Jack Mytton Way onto the Common is now open (see map). This has been our major project for 2013 and has taken a significant investment in time and material.

In the past this route was regularly used by horse riders and walkers and allowed access between the the two sides of the common avoiding the road. Unfortunately changes in drainage from adjoing land has meant this route became impassable.

The Jack Mytton Way near to the gate off the common by The Mounts entrance had also become very wet and difficult to negotiate in anything but very dry weather.

The Clee View Bridleway Group sort agreement from the land owners (Shropshire Wildlife Trust) for this route to be made a permissive bridleway which was granted in 2012.  This was a major project and required a significant investment in materials and equipment hire.

permissive6

permissive3

We submitted a project proposal to the Cleobury and Rural Local Joint Committee for a grant to help with the costs of the work which was approved in July 2013.  This made the project possible so many thanks to them for their support.

 

Over 3 days solid hard work  and long days (August 8th, 9th and 10th) Steve and John, with some help from Chris and Yvonne, have done a fantastic job in making this route safe and usable for horse riders and walkers.

Thanks must particularity go to John Sutton for putting so much of his own time and energy into this project. Thanks must also go to Steve Jones for his expert digger driving and great skill in making impassable wet ground safe whilst minimising any damage to the landscape and wildlife.

 

The route now needs signage and also some clearance work to make the route clear and safe. We will be organising a work party soon to complete this work.

permissive4 permissive2permissive7permissive1

Work party open up new route

work-party-route-K--01

A group of us met on a cold winters day to open up a bridleway that is on maps but had disappeared and was no longer used. The council have put a lovely new gate in off the road but there was no clear route. Well armed with brush cutters, loppers, chain saw we cleared the route K from the road down to where it joins an existing track (see below map). This is now usable and hopefully will not get too wet. We will come back and put way marker posts up in due course.

 

We also started work on the new permissive route (P2) which joins route K to route J and avoids the road. This route is not yet usable as there is a very wet patch where we plan to put in a drainage pipe. We hope to do this as soon as ground has hopefully dried up a little more.

Watch this space for updates and info on work parties.

New-routes-K-and-P2

 

work-party-route-K--02work-party-route-K--03

 

 

Site Meeting with Council

Site meeting held with John, Chris and Phil Betts (Shrop Council) to review options. Agreed that most practical option is option A.

See Post below for details of options and map.

The council will clear the route of the existing bridleway from the road near to the cattle grid but off the common down the side of The Green and diagonally accross to ultimately meet up with the Nunnery Lane bridleway. They will install a new gate off the road adjacent to the Green  (there is a suitable  pull in). For those wanting to stay on the common it is possible to find their own route onto the road on the common side of the cattle grid.

The council will arrange necessary paperwork with SWT for the permissive route around “The Green”. When this has been agreed we will need a work party to lay a drainage pipe behind the Green. Might get away with doing this by hand to keep costs down and hopefully will not need much stone. Phil is looking into whether council can provide drainage pipe and stone (also needed for the Prescot route).

The other issue of the gate onto Nunnery Lane was discussed. The council will look into moving the gate further up the lane away from the steep drop. Hopefully this will be done by the council at same time as doing the other work above.

Hope to get this route open in next few months.

Initial Proposal

We would like to open up a permissive route from the back gate of The Mounts accross common. This is a historic route and has been ridden for many years but in last 2 years has become impassible due to gorse.

Initial meeting with SWT 2 options were discussed.

Option A – Route to go back to road and then use the route of the official bridleway (K). The route of the official bridleway will need to be found and cleared. There is a very wet area on this route which will need to be drained. Should be relatively easy as it is caused by an outlet overflow from a pond which could be piped under the bridleway.

Option B – Use the route from the back gate of the Mounts which has been used for many years and used to be a suitable route. There are now 2 wet areas which will need some drainage. would be fairly major job. Some gorse clearing will also be needed.

The gate off the common onto the lane by the Nunnery needs to be improved as it is difficult to use as no room for horse to turn by the gate. SWT are happy for this to be moved and suggested moving it a few yards up into the lane. Need to find out who owns the lane. Need to discuss with Council byways officer.