Fixed
Heavy weighted gate blocking bridleway
Reported via mobile in the Passage-Obstructed/Overgrown category anonymously at 18:26, Sat 9 April 2022
Sent to Northamptonshire Highways less than a minute later. ref: 3448448.
The farmer has attached an unnecessarily heavy weight to the first gate on your right after passing the Water Tower at the top of the Grafton Way when approaching from Cowpastures Lane. The weight is of a size and manner which prevents the gate from staying open momentarily to allow horses to pass through safely. It swings closed too fast and could cause injury if it were to slam against a horse attempting to pass through. It is difficult to open from horseback. As advised by the British Horse Society, All gate installations should comply with the British Standard 5709 as a minimum for good practice. The gate should be operable from horseback with the lever or latch at top rail height to enable the gate to be opened using one (and the same) hand (see BHS Advice on Gate). This gate is not. The gate must open freely to at least 90 degrees but preferably not swing away from the rider under its own weight to an angle wider than 110 degrees. This gate does not swing freely away, it needs an immense push away by the rider. The closing speed of self-closing gates MUST be adjusted to at least 8 seconds (measured from an angle of ninety degrees open). This gate closes immediately due to such a heavy weight on it, it does not leave enough time to pass through it safely. This particular landowner has been spoken to previously in regards to him hindering access to the bridleway but he seems to be up to his old tricks. We are already so limited for safe bridleway riding in this area since the development of the land right across the top of Grafton Way Bridleway on the other side of Cowpastures Lane. It is unfair of the farmer to behave in this manner.
Updates
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Thank you for reporting a fault. We will use the information you have provided to assess and prioritise this fault in accordance with our published response times for fault reports.
State changed to: Investigating
Posted by Northamptonshire Highways at 18:27, Sat 9 April 2022
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State changed to: In progress
Updated by Northamptonshire Highways at 12:53, Tue 12 April 2022
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This report has been assessed and a job for repair has been raised.
State changed to: Action scheduled
Posted by Northamptonshire Highways at 12:54, Tue 12 April 2022
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Thank you for your enquiry. This bridleway was inspected on 12/4/22. A works order has been raised to remove the existing weight on the gate at this location that has been attached by the landowner. Northamptonshire Highways will carry out improvement works to this gate by adding a self closing weight that will close the gate as slowly and safely as possible without obstructing access for horse riders. This work will be undertaken within the next 26 weeks.
State changed to: In progress
Posted by Northamptonshire Highways at 14:27, Tue 12 April 2022
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Thank you for reporting a fault on the highway, the highways team have now resolved the issue.
State changed to: Fixed
Posted by Northamptonshire Highways at 11:30, Tue 28 June 2022
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.