Yep, that's the one that runs from Holywell Lane to the Thrift Wood. Its all in a good cause though rather short notice. See the message from the Countryside Access Team to the PC clerk today:
We have contractors clearing Bridleway 4 that runs from Holywell Lane down to Thrift Wood. They will initially be cutting back the hedges and the brambles to open up the bridleway a bit more. I'm not sure if you'd received any reports but during December and some of January, but the bridleway was effectively unusable because of all the standing water and mud.
The aim of the work is to widen the bridleway and essentially get more air and light onto the path surface to help dry it out quicker when we next have prolonged period of rainfall. We're also going to be doing a bit of surfacing in the lowest points to try and raise the ground level and allow water to run off the surface of the path.
It's happening all a bit last minute, partly because we've only just been given some left over budget but more importantly because the clearance work needs to be done before bird nesting season begins in March. So from Monday the path will be closed to allow the contractor to clear the path. The surfacing work is expected to take place later in the week but because there isn't enough room for the contractors vehicles and the public to pass, I decided it would be safer for the path to close. It will reopen by Friday 1st or sooner if the work gets finished.
In the meantime I have provided an alternative route for people to use and it is displayed on site. I suspect most people will continue to use the permissive routes around the Forest of Marston Vales land regardless, but as they are not paths that we are responsible for I cannot instruct people to do that.
Anyway, if you do get any queries please feel free to pass on my details, though as I've said I'm hoping the path will be open by the 1st anyway.
We're also planning to clear out the ditch and remove the deadwood from BW22 (to Partridge Piece) at some point in March too. That shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 days to clear though, and hopefully once its done it'll be much nicer to walk down. I've not got an exact start date yet but it could be as soon as the 4th. I'll let you know when I find out.
Many thanks
Rick
Richard Thompson
Rights of Way Officer (Central West)
Countryside Access Team
Central Bedfordshire Council
Tel 0300 300 6113
Email: rick.thompson@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
We have contractors clearing Bridleway 4 that runs from Holywell Lane down to Thrift Wood. They will initially be cutting back the hedges and the brambles to open up the bridleway a bit more. I'm not sure if you'd received any reports but during December and some of January, but the bridleway was effectively unusable because of all the standing water and mud.
The aim of the work is to widen the bridleway and essentially get more air and light onto the path surface to help dry it out quicker when we next have prolonged period of rainfall. We're also going to be doing a bit of surfacing in the lowest points to try and raise the ground level and allow water to run off the surface of the path.
It's happening all a bit last minute, partly because we've only just been given some left over budget but more importantly because the clearance work needs to be done before bird nesting season begins in March. So from Monday the path will be closed to allow the contractor to clear the path. The surfacing work is expected to take place later in the week but because there isn't enough room for the contractors vehicles and the public to pass, I decided it would be safer for the path to close. It will reopen by Friday 1st or sooner if the work gets finished.
In the meantime I have provided an alternative route for people to use and it is displayed on site. I suspect most people will continue to use the permissive routes around the Forest of Marston Vales land regardless, but as they are not paths that we are responsible for I cannot instruct people to do that.
Anyway, if you do get any queries please feel free to pass on my details, though as I've said I'm hoping the path will be open by the 1st anyway.
We're also planning to clear out the ditch and remove the deadwood from BW22 (to Partridge Piece) at some point in March too. That shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 days to clear though, and hopefully once its done it'll be much nicer to walk down. I've not got an exact start date yet but it could be as soon as the 4th. I'll let you know when I find out.
Many thanks
Rick
Richard Thompson
Rights of Way Officer (Central West)
Countryside Access Team
Central Bedfordshire Council
Tel 0300 300 6113
Email: rick.thompson@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
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