I was pleased to secure the re-opening of four blocked paths in the parish of Tetsworth, south Oxfordshire. I have been pressing Oxfordshire County Council, the highway authority, to act since November 2019 when I first found the path problems while doing my bird survey for the River Thame Conservation Trust. Despite much nagging the council did not get the paths re-opened.
Two of the paths were obstructed by locked gates (footpaths 22 and 71). Two were obstructed by fences which pretended to be stiles (footpath 14 and bridleway 28). The ‘stile’ across the bridleway, which I climbed with difficulty, was of course a total blockage for riders and cyclists.
So in April this year, on behalf of the Open Spaces Society, I served four notices on the council under section 130A of the Highways Act 1980, one for each obstruction. These required the council to reply within one month to say what action it would take. If the council did not respond satisfactorily I was entitled to apply to the magistrates’ court for an order forcing the council to remove the obstructions—and I fully intended to do so.
However, it did not prove necessary. Within a month the council reported that it had asked the landowners to deal with the obstructions.
In June I visited and found that the gate on footpath 71 had been unlocked.
A kissing-gate had been placed next to the locked gate on footpath 22.
The impossible ‘stile’ on footpath 14 had been replaced.
The other impossible ‘stile’, across bridleway 28, had been replaced with a bridle-gate.
So now these paths have been opened up and people can enjoy the attractive network south of the M40, and the fine views of the Chilterns and the Berkshire Downs.
It all goes to show that it pays to get tough.
There are yet more problems in Tetsworth to be resolved, and I hope I don’t have to resort to further legal action, but we’ll see.
CampaignerKate 
Well done! I’m sure there are a lot more instances of blocked paths all around England. I am so fed up of landowners and there sense of entitlement to do what they want with land that really they should consider themselves custodians.
great to see you got the Oxfordshire county council to get action on these blockages of footpaths. We still have no action on Sunningwell footpath 8 through the Quarry after 8 years of broken promises .
Can you please help Kate
Well done, Kate.
Excellent news
Great result but Highway Authorities like to spin the process out as long as possible knowing that the cost of going to the Magistrates Court is off putting for many plaintiffs.
Yes true. However the Open Spaces Society wants to step up its legal action, and will pay for its members to go to the magistrates’ court when they have a good case.
Well done, Kate.
Thank you.
Good for you, Kate. Just goes to show what good determination and tenacity can achieve in the face of so-called authority.
Thank you.
Wow! What a difference, your voice and tireless efforts paid off for one and all…
Thank you!
My pleasure!