Public Right of Way
 

I thought the road from Church Kirk Bridge to Rishton Papermill and the path from the swingbridge to Rishton was also a right of way - seems I am wrong?

Re: Public Right of Way
 

You mean to walk or drive?
You used to be able to get to Rishton papermill from church kirk with a car but you can't now, was a bit bumpy going down the hill towards where the motorway bridge is now :eek:

Re: Public Right of Way
 

I have looked on Multimap
Map of United Kingdom | Multimap.com
There is a break in the track on the map but on arial view and on Google Earth - a track of some sort is still there.
Has someone stopped you from using this track?

Re: Public Right of Way
 

Yes - I tried yesterday to go down both paths with a vehicle.
The entrance at the Church Kirk end is gated and padlocked.
The entrance at the copy clough end is also gated and padlocked with an upturned caravan across the road.
I lived on the farm on the left hand side going down (Park Farm) and we were responsible for the upkeep of that road.
Times have changed the road is a disgrace.
Both roads and track leading to Rishton papermill were owned by Petre estates and they were quite strict.
It seems times have changed

Re: Public Right of Way
 

It might be worthwhile contacting the local authorities to ask whether this closure of a public footpath/track was legal.
If it was, they did that very quietly!!

Re: Public Right of Way
 

Even if you get through the gate you can't go very far now, from the chicken farm the road has been reduced to just a path about 2 feet wide, they did this when the motorway was being built, I took a photo from there not long ago, it's in THIS thread

Re: Public Right of Way
 

The Ramblers might know or might WANT to know
Hyndburn Ramblers

Re: Public Right of Way
 

The road should have been diverted to go under the viaduct.
The fields at the other side down to Rishton Papermill were part of the holding. Park Farm that is. The only way to get to this land from the farm.

Re: Public Right of Way
 

Re: Public Right of Way
 

They probably purchased the land when they built the motorway, the roads still there from Rishton to the bridge, there could possibly be a gate at this end into the field, can't remember now but I'll look next time i'm down there

Re: Public Right of Way
 

Yes they are........BUT............Hynburn Council are now in charge.
Nuf said?

Re: Public Right of Way
 

When a right of way exists any new owner has to preserve that right, or go through a legal procedure to remove it - and as Willow said - public consultation /publicity is part of that.
PS whilst reading this I have been Google searching - Hyndburn Council appears active in creating public paths in other areas

Re: Public Right of Way
 

It could well be that the path is still there for walking but has definitely closed to vehicular traffic. I read that the Chicken Farm owner had a vermin problem at the farm and this could have been done for selfish reasons.
I will pursue the matter with the council and let you know

Re: Public Right of Way
 

They had more than vermin, they had drugs :)
It's defnately still there for walking, went down not long ago

Re: Public Right of Way
 

Dont know anything about that.
When I were a lad my Stepfather (Walter Henderson) would have used the shotgun we had in the house (Licensed) to get shut of that problem?
Both problems