Low Weald Bridleway Group, click here to

Current Issues that need pursuing (sorry if your’s is not yet on this list, we do have our hands full!)

• Chiddingly 63, Swan Wood. Almost impassable due to neglect of hedges, and the  theft of full width
• Chiddingly 6, BeardsFm to Pick Hill, ditches/hedges neglected. Bridge rotting due to lack of maintenance.
• Bridleway Arlington45. Section in middle over railway is only a footpath. Rest of it has had styles instead of bridlegates installed. We want the crossing upgraded (as mentioned in the RoWIP), not the rest downgraded! Apparently we can risk our lives crossing a dual-carriageway dodging hundreds of motors, but not one or at most two trains. Logical or not?
• The diversion of BR19 Ripe at Veals Farm, dangerous lake. Good News from RoW: Landowner and RoW have agreed correct path is up the driveway. The fingerpost at the road has now been moved to point up the drive. Exact route from end of drive onwards is unclear, the width has been cut down over the years and the path here is narrower than maps show so feel free to take track through wood. Correction, it has been pointed out that this is incorrect. Please keep to the path
• The bogs at north end of BR19 Ripe, and at the end of the drive, caused by lack of ditch maintenance. (with permission from Mr Mayhew, the landowner, Bridleway Action and Coleman Contractors are in the process of draining north end, need to return when dry to level and install culvert)
• The re-opening of BR33/4 Sheepcote Lane to Poundfield Corner. Pleased to report that work has started on the first half . RoW are doing an excellent job of this.
• The bridge and gate on BR22 Poundfield Corner to Batsbrook. News from RoW: currently working with the landowner of Chalvington and Ripe Br22 to improve horse access across this bridge – namely by resiting and improving the gate at the end of the bridge. (that was back in October 09, and just seen a letter to RoW about this from 2005, things don’t work very fast do they!)
• The surface of BR 26ef at Whitesmith. Nothing done
• The impossible gate on BR11 Chiddingly, Bull Cottage. Been like this since 1974 !
• Exit of BR 61 onto A22 at Nash Street, poor, in fact nill, visibility each side of the road not to TA90/05 standard (success). Highways have cut some scrub back but unfortunately only half a job has been done, still too dangerous to exit here. Have met RoW maintenance team and they agree more has to be cut back, but of course nothing happens. Correction, ESCC refuse to make this exit safe for you
• Road crossing of A259 at Pevensey, visibility not to TA90/05 standard. News from RoW: The A259(T) at this point is managed by the Highways Agency as it is a trunk road. I understand they do have long terms plans to install a suitable bridge at this point, although they have not, to date, had the funding to carry out this work. In the meantime, I will forward your report to the Highways Agency and ask that they arrange for verge clearance at the bridleway junctions. Still getting complaints about this from riders as of course iders don’t matter to Highways.
• Slippery road surface on Chalvington Rd at Equestrian Centre (success) Had meeting with Highways Friday 13th, they will be pressure jetting the smooth tarmac to give a grip in January, and resurfacing the road properly in summer. Re-texturing has been done, excellent job. Well done Highways.
• Slippery road surface at Parsonage Lane Chiddingly. This has been passed on to Highways Heathfield area. Nothing done
• Speeding traffic on Camberlot Rd, and Nash Street
• DMMO to alter footpath to bridleway, green lane onto Camberlot Rd Dicker. Now have the forms, which I will be asking five people to fill in.
• Friths Farm onto Ailies Road, BR 29/16, bridlegate perched on 6′ bank with vertical drop direct onto road, and other side of road is gate shut by chairsprings with sharp catch, only opens 2′, and 18″ drop underfoot. Congratulations to riders who make it across this road without serious injury! Just tried riding this and had to turn back as too dangerous on your own. ESCC is responsible for filling in the deep hole in the gateway
• Stream Mill, Chiddingly BR 7c. News from RoW: Renovating the existing structure will cost around £100,000. Given this cost, we are currently looking at the cheaper option of installing a temporary wooden bridge over the arch itself. This would enable the bridge to be reopened to all users and the wooden structure would be likely to have a life span of around 15 years. This work is at a design stage at the moment, but if we are able to obtain all the necessary consents to install a wooden bridge over the stone arch then it should hopefully be possible to reopen this route to all users next financial year. News: will be re-opened this year
• Southease bridge over Ouse, latest news: E.A. to close this for repair from near end of April, all summer to end of October. Temporary bridge for walkers and cyclists only.
• Cuckoo exit onto Ersham Road not suitable for horses, lights should have push buttons suitable for riders and barriers are dangerous to ride round as pedestrian not equestrian. Still no proper map published by escc to show parts that are bridleway, Cuckoo trail ranger no help whatsoever, neither is O.S. map.
• BR Selmeston 7, Slubby Lane at Selmeston Church to Berwick Station. Overgrown and narrow gate makes this impassable. RoW have inspected and say will get this put right