Battle of the bridleway

From the archive, first published Tuesday 3rd Apr 2007.

A picturesque rural unmade road which leads people into the heart of Langdon Hills country park has become the subject of a bitter row.

The rural idyll was shattered when the private road, known as Southway, was fenced off by a homeowner. It is now blocked by a gate with signs warning it is not a right of way.

Despite heated public talks at a packed public meeting at Dry Street Memorial Church Hall, One Tree Hill, a truce could not be reached.

Residents vowed to block access, while riders and walkers promised to keep using it.

Essex Bridleway Association, called the meeting and has applied to Essex County Council for official bridleway status. A public inquiry is expected next year.

The meeting descended into a slanging match between Lydia Abbott, whose husband, Colin, 62, put up the gate, and several riders who accused them of chasing horses.

Mrs Abbott, aged in her 50s, who suffers throat cancer, claims the gate went up to stop flytippers, courting couples and motorbikers plaguing the quiet haven, but admitted the ban extends to anyone else, because she claims the road is private.

One middle-aged man at the meeting said: "This can't go on. An 11-year-old kid was threatened. A small horse with a child on was hit with a slipper. Would they be content if a rider was left with a broken neck."

A man, in his 60s added: "All of a sudden newcomers have blocked the path. People have been physically abused and attacked. There was an attempt to pull a woman from a horse."

A woman rider described how two young girls were told they should not be there. The girls were petrified. "We were chased into Dry Street," said one rider.

Senior park ranger Nick Stanley said people on foot had also been confronted.

Mrs Abbott moved to her home in Southway three years ago. She vowed to continue challenging riders.

She said she had not expected a constant flow of riders along the private unmade road.

Addressing the objectors at the meeting Mrs Abbott said: "I will keep stopping you. It's a private road."

"My dad's brother got kicked to death by a horse. I hate them.

"I'm frightened. I don't like horses. I'm constantly asked to move out the way. Why should I?"

She admitted ordering people from the area, but denied acts of violence. She said: "We don't hit anybody. I have not chased a child with a slipper. I don't wear slippers outside, I wear wellingtons."

A middle-aged woman hit back: "If you have such a fear of horses why do you persist in coming out of your home and chasing them down the road."

Magistrate Michael Batten, urged people to behave reasonably and urged anyone suffering intimidation to call police.

He said: "What I have heard horrifies me."

Deirdre Graham, the Bridleway Association's president, said: "As soon as the police get involved, the inquiry will be brought forward, because they cannot risk a breach of the peace or violence."

Some riders asked why a truce could not be reached where the gate stayed up to stop flytippers, but it was agreed riders, cyclists and walkers could go by unhindered.

However Mrs Graham, warned the application must continue, because if the current homeowners moved such an agreement could lapse.

Mrs Abbott left defiantly saying "It's my bridleway."

Soon after she had left there was an almost unanimous show of hands in support of continuing the protest.

Mrs Graham urged riders to keep using Southway.