PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY EVIDENCE FORM

DON’T LOSE YOUR WAY GROUP- SUSSEX

Claiming Unregistered Rights of Way

The group includes members of Mid Sussex Bridleways Group, the Open Spaces Society, the Ramblers Association, the Trail Riders Fellowship, and the South Downs Society

SAVING THE LEWES RACECOURSE BRIDLEWAY

Have you tried to use the bridleway past Lewes racecourse buildings since June and found most of it fenced off? Or are you concerned to read that it has been fenced off?

The route with the problems is just north of the racecourse buildings, on the route that runs between Mount Harry at one end and Lewes Town Centre or Lewes Prison at the other. It used to be very wide, up to 11 metres across. If you were going to or from the prison direction you just kept straight ahead.

In June 2016 the landowner erected fencing which corrals walkers and riders into a narrow strip of land to the right of the picture, which will get very churned up and unpleasant in winter, so we want to get the old, wider route put back.

The map explains the problem. From A the route used to run to B and D. At B/D it was about 11 metres wide. Now you cannot go between A and B directly.

Our problem is that, although there are bridleway signs on the route it is not a legal right of way. The legal route goes much nearer the old race track, going via G. (If you would like to be involved in getting this open as well please contact me).

So we need to claim the route that has been fenced off as a right of way by showing evidence that it has been used by the public for at least the last 20 years.

We need people who have used the route during that time to give evidence by filling in the attached form.

The form has a simplified map which shows the fences that surrounded the routes before the extra fencing was put up in June. Please mark the routes within the fences that you used, even if you used different routes and this makes the form look a bit of a mess. We need to show that the whole width was used. Obviously your route will be different if you were coming from or going to Wallands and the Town Centre via E, than it will be if you were travelling to or from the Prison direction via C. PLEASE TURN OVER

We need evidence from equestrians, walkers, runners and cyclists.

Because people move it is harder to get evidence of use at the start of the period, so we are particularly keen to get evidence of use in the 1990s, but all evidence is very welcome.

If you know of anyone else who has used the route please let them know about this.

Please return the form to Chris Smith (Open Space Society) 12 Cleve Terrace, Lewes BN7 1JJ, or ring me on 01273 483869 and I will try to collect the form from you.

Thank you

The answers on this form are about routes in Hamsey parish by Lewes racecourse running from point A on the accompanying map on Bridleway Hamsey 18b (538914 111471) to points B and D (in the vicinity of 539137 111322) and then dividing to reach point C at the junction of Hamsey 18b and 20c (539203 111277) and point E on Hamsey 31e (539326 111312)

Please show the routes you used on the map above and then answer the questions below, deleting any answers that do not apply, or writing in the correct answers. You must answer all questions.

1. Please give your name (and your age, if under 18)

2. Please give your address

3. If we can contact you with any further enquiries please give contact details here:

4. During what period have you used the route?

From ______to Date of signing

(if you no longer use the route cross out “date of signing” and put the date you stopped above)

PLEASE TURN OVER

5. How did you use the route? On foot / On horse / On bicycle

5b. Have you used both branches of the route? (E &C) If not which one did you use?

6. How often did/do you use the route? e.g. daily/weekly/monthly (Please do not use vague words like ‘occasionally’; try to be as precise as you can) (If you used both branches it is helpful if you can say how often you used each.

7. What did you use the route for?(for example to enjoy a walk, do a training run,

Exercise your horse etc.)

8. Have you ever encountered any stiles, fence or gates on the route? Yes/No
including recently erected ones(If yes, give details and dates below)

9. Have you ever seen any notices such as “private”, “no right of way”

“no trespassing” or similar on the route? Yes/No
(If YES, give dates and wording below)

10. Have you ever been employed by or been a tenant of the owner of

the land (for example because your rented a stable) Yes/No
(If yes, give details below)

11. Have you ever been asked not to use the route? Yes/No
(If yes, give rough dates and who asked you not to use the route below)

12. Have you ever asked someone for permission to use the path? Yes/No
(If yes, give dates and name of person below)

13. So far as you can remember, were there any changes to the line of fences along this route before last year? Yes (please give details below)/I can’t remember any

Please use the space below to give any further information requested by the questions above or to tell us anything else that you think might be relevant.

Please sign here…………………………………………….Date………………………….Please return the form by hand or by post to Chris Smith, 12 Cleve Terrace, Lewes, BN7 1JJ

Applicant’s Reference: Hamsey A