Horse riders are back on the warpath after winning a battle against Bradford Council over the state of the district's bridleways.

The Council was ordered by Local Government Ombudsman Patricia Cook to pay Silsden, Draughton and Addingham Bridleways Association and the South Pennine Packhorse Trust £500 each for the injustice they suffered because of the obstructed routes.

The associations represent hundreds of people.

Riders said they were forced onto the roads because the Council failed to carry out some of its statutory duties to maintain the routes.

They claimed the Council had "given them the run around while the network fell into disrepair".

But the Council said it had been undertaking an extensive survey which had taken far longer than anticipated.

But now the Bridleways Association has attacked the Council again over proposals to set out new guidelines which landowners must follow to get approval for new or existing gates on the bridleways.

Officers' recommendations for the new system will be considered by the highways sub-committee tomorrow.

Bridleways Association chairman Lisa Thomas said: "It is absolutely ridiculous. Why on earth are they talking about extra gates when whole bridleways are obstructed and people can't use them at all?

"Why haven't they brought the Ombudsman's report to this meeting when they have only three months to respond?"

But sub-committee chairman Councillor Phil Thornton said: "The Bradford district has bridleways crossing some of the most beautiful scenery in the country and we want to ensure they are accessible to everyone.

"The new policy should help balance the needs of the land owners with those of horse riders and clarify the Council's powers if we need to take action over unauthorised gates or those which fall into disrepair."

He said the sub-committee would also consider setting up a pilot scheme to investigate complaints from horse riders about two well-used and recently improved bridleways in Silsden and Keighley.

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