Local horse riders have welcomed Bradford council action to improve bridleways in the countryside surrounding Keighley.

Haworth and Oxenhope District Bridleways Group says it is pleased that the council is acting to open up public rights of way. But chairman Peter Hill says extra cash will be needed to tackle a backlog of work that has piled up after years of neglect.

He says: "Public rights of way have been treated as poor relations by those setting council budgets with little additional investment in the past 30 years. Our council should provide proper funding for signposting, repair and maintenance and processing rights of way claims.

"All members of our society should be able to enjoy using the footpaths and bridleways that are the best means of accessing the countryside."

Councillors were this week expected to agree tough new regulations governing bridleways which have been blocked by landowners. The owner of any gate across footpaths and bridleways has a duty to maintain it in a safe condition and ensure it can be used by people with the right of access. If repairs are not carried out or unauthorised gates are erected, the council can put things right and charge the owner.

Council officers recently investigated two local bridleways, No 64 in Silsden and number 85 in Keighley, to test how the new rules might work.

All owners of gates on the routes are cooperating with the council and officers believe the matter will reach a satisfactory conclusion. Officers feel that if landowners, riders and the council work together, in most cases there will be no need for enforcement action.

The council's new rules will state that all authorised gates must be made suitable for use from horseback. Unauthorised gates which are used to control farm animals and are acceptable to horse riders will become authorised. The council will remove unauthorised gates which it believes do not have a legitimate purpose.

A new Rights of Way Network Management Plan will include a programme for dealing with unauthorised gates.

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