Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.	Byway 72 St Stephen (shown right in red) runs from Millhouse Lane, Bedmond, generally south west to a junction with St Stephen 4 and St Stephen 41 bridleways. Many riders who use St Stephen 72 also use the orange route to the east, forming part of Millhouse Lane and leading to Searches Lane. We are collecting user evidence for this path. Read more. At the time of the BHS 2021 Access Survey (5 Sep 21), no gates were across the path and it was signposted only at the northern end. Better signage at the southern end would be useful for those unfamiliar with the area.
1. Sign at juntion with Millhouse Lane Photo: Helen Taylor, 5 Sep 2021	2. View from Millhouse Lane Photo: Helen Taylor, 5 Sep 2021	3. View SW about half way along Photo: Helen Taylor, 5 Sep 2021	4. View NE from SW end of path Photo: Helen Taylor, 5 Sep 2021	5. Makeshift sign near SW end of path Photo: Helen Taylor, 5 Sep 2021
This path is an old road, but St Albans City and District Council recorded it as a footpath in 1990. An application had to be made to ensure that riders were not prevented from using the route in the future, as the recording of a route as a footpath can make people think it is only a footpath. The order to record the path was opposed and a public inquiry held, but the Inspector agreed with the application and confirmed the order.

Legal History 1938: The route is shown as an unclassified road (brown line) on the Hertfordshire County Council ROW survey. Map St Albans Rural 15. 14 Feb 1990: The City and District of St Albans (St Michael's and St Stephen's Parishes) Modification Order 1990 (confirmed 14 May 1991) added this path to the definitive map as a footpath. 1 May 1993: Application to change from FP to Byway. 26 Apr 1995: The City and District of St Albans (Byway 72 St Stephen) Modification Order 1995 (confirmed 21 Jul 2000) changed the depiction of this path on the definitive map from footpath to byway. PINS reference FPS/B1930/7/3. 2 May 2006: NERC exemption s.67(1) as route shown on DM as Byway Open to All Traffic. Application Process Path Application Certificate Direction SADC Committee Order Confirmed EC106 1 May 1993 Not recorded Not needed 14 Sep 1994 26 Apr 1995 21 Jul 2000

Definitive Statement (4 Dec 2015) Path: [St Stephen] 72.  Status: BOAT  DM sheet: 76 Commences from Millhouse Lane (county road), Bedmond (at TL 1060 0365) thence generally southwestwards to a junction with BR4 and BR41 St Stephen (at TL 1046 0346). Width: Varies between 8.2m and 10m as shown hatched on the plan annexed to the City and District of St Albans (Byway 72 St Stephen) Modification Order 1995. Maintainability This route is maintainable at the public expense because it was a highway before 1835.

© 2024 Patchetts Green Bridleways Trust. File reference: EC106. HCC reference: STA