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RIDER RIGHTS

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The Governement should sycamore rider-friendly policy !

Langstrath and Coombe Fells, Cumbria

The National Trust in their application for revocation of s193 on Ranmore Common stated as reason to the Secretary of State that those rights are similar to those under National Trust Acts. S193 was confirmed to include equestrian rights but no allowance for equestrian access has been proposed.

Bob Milton writes to Richard Holland, National Trust

Bob Milton writes to Richard Holland, National TrustI have just read with interest your decision on behalf of the Secretary of State for the erection of 4000m of stock fencing to enclose 74 ha of common by the National Trust to keep the commoners sheep out so as to change the grazing into sparse woodland as a consequence of Higher level stewardship and to keep it for twenty years. Your decision brings certain issues into question:

1. HLS is for only ten years so there is no reason or guaranteed support for any period greater than that. There is no duty on the NT to remove or maintain the fencing or review its need for the future.

2. The provision of fencing cannot be considered as providing or improving opportunities for public enjoyment. The NT Act requires only that common land is held for the benefit of the public and fencing it off can never be considered of benefit.

3. This area is of a size as to be an area of recreation for all who wish it.

4. The field gates are likely to be locked except when used to return stock to the rest of the common so are not to be considered as publicly accessible.

5. The dismissive approach to those with protective characteristics brings into question the Planning Inspectorates own duty under the Equality Act 2010. It is not for the Secretary of State to decide when and where the disabled can go.

6. The National Trust in their application for revocation of s193 on Ranmore Common stated as reason to the Secretary of State that those rights are similar to those under National Trust Acts. S193 was confirmed to include equestrian rights but no allowance for equestrian access has been proposed.

I pine for a more sensible approach to saving our forests

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