The British Horse Society's Access Fighting Fund Appeal is dedicated to BMW who have contributed to the Discovering Lost Ways Project in a rather unexpected way:  they have created another Lost Way in Oxfordshire. 

This brings the total number of Lost Ways entered onto the Definitive Map since the enactment of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to minus one.

At Witney Magistrates Court on Monday 15th October the Judge allowed BMW’s application to stop up a right of way which had existed for 2,000 years without any requirement for an alternative route to be provided for horses.  Pedestrians and cyclists, on the other hand, will have an alternative route provided for them.

Although BMW had guaranteed the local authority’s costs in the event that the application did not succeed, they did not volunteer to meet the local authority’s costs (let alone the BHS’s) when they got their way, leaving the council to apply for an order for costs against the BHS.

In total, arguing strenuously for the retention of an equestrian right of way in Oxfordshire has cost the BHS in excess of £50,000 (£30,000 of the local authority’s costs and in excess of £20,000 in costs to the Society).

We are talking to BMW’s competitors to invite them to contribute to the fighting fund and thereby help atone for BMW’s meanness of spirit towards equestrians.  But if we are to retain the ability in future to take on landowners who seek to extinguish or obstruct bridleways and byways, we will need as much in our coffers as possible.

If the protection of our equestrian rights of way network is important to you, please help us with a donation.

Graham Cory
Chief Executive
The British Horse Society