2014 Retrospective
Literally a few hundred yards from Potters Bar parish, a bridleway (Northaw 14) joins Coopers Lane Road, a quarter of a mile from bridleway Northaw 10 (Hook Lane - see our 2009 Retrospective for our work to open this route). We started work to join the two off the road as soon as the Hook Lane order was confirmed.
We were delighted that the County Council turned out to be the freeholder, and that the tenant, the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, was willing to agree to a bridleway creation.
In fact, after walking the potential path with members of the Local Access Forum, and several site visits to determine what was possible, we’re pleased to say that the new bridleway will run for well over a mile, joining the two bridleways as originally planned and also getting horses off a very busy section of Coopers Lane Road.
In order to make the project happen, we now need to raise the money to fence the path. The County Council has estimated the cost of fencing to be £1,250. The Council itself will find the money needed for the other works (many times this cost) to bring the path into use.
In November, Hertfordshire County Council was presented with the British Horse Society’s Lady Elizabeth Kirk Award for the best voluntary dedication of a bridleway, for their work in Aldenham. The several paths that opened were described in last year’s Retrospective.
The photograph (courtesy of the BHS) shows the County Council’s Serena Clay (Left) and Dawn Grocock receive the Award from
BHS President Martin Clunes.
We were pleased when the application to record North Mymms 82 footpath as a bridleway, which we had made in 1994, reached the top of the County Council’s priority list. The consultation took place in January, the decision that the route was in fact a bridleway was made in March, and the Order recording it was made in April. The order was confirmed on 8 Aug 2014.
This route forms part of the London Orbital Bridleroute (H25).
Our Secretary, for the British Horse Society, applied to record this route, which was well used by local riders, in 2010. The County Council started its investigation in May 2012, and the landowner agreed to dedicate the path, which makes the recording process so much easier. The public path creation agreement was completed in 26 Sep 14.
Good progress was made this year in the establishment of a link bridleway from Woodhall Lane to Radlett Lane. In 2013, Mr Cohen dedicated the part of the route on his land. Now, the part that is on Borough Council land has now been surfaced suitably, and the legal work is in progress. All being well, the path may open at Easter.
Please refrain from using the route in wet weather until the remaining works have been completed.
Once this path is open for use, the 16 mile Aldenham Parish Ride will finally be open. Because of the work done in Shenley in 2012 and Ridge in 2013, it will also enable the Shenley Parish Ride to open too!
It is well known by Supporters that path work can take years from instigation to fruition, so we were delighted when contacted by Hertfordshire Highways regarding the installation of a Pegasus crossing at Shenleybury, highlighted as a need only a few years ago. This will enable the Aldenham and Shenley Parish Rides to cross the busy road more safely, while also slowing traffic so that school children can cross the road in safety too. It is planned for construction in 2015.
We were pleased that our Secretary has been asked to conduct the statutory consultation needed so that Hertsmere can divert a footpath at Well End (Shenley 3) and upgrade it to bridleway. This will be an extension to the Silver Hill and London Road verge route opened in 2011.
The Hertfordshire County Council (Ardeley 3, 52 and 53, Great Munden 65, 66 and 67 and Walkern 43) Modification Order 2012, made 20 Jan 2012, proposes to record these several paths as restricted byways.
The Hertfordshire County Council (Hatfield 186 and Sandridge 54) Modification Order 2012, made 16 Nov 2012, will if confirmed, show a route from the road between Fairfold’s Farm and Suttons Farm, to Coopers Green Lane in the Parish of Sandridge, as a restricted byway.
© 2025 Patchetts Green Bridleways Trust.
