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Gate locked country walk - Patrick (9th Apr 2020 - 17:35:44) Does anyone know the details of the person who has locked the gate in the field by the lake between Silent Garden and the Deers Hut? In doing so, during this pandemic whereby people locally are using the walk as their exercise, the walkers have to resort to using the turnstile as opposed to walking through the gate (which has a motorcycle lock on it now). This obviously has major ramifications regarding cross contamination for the walkers in this very difficult and trying time. If anyone can assist I would be very grateful. Thank you

Re: Gate locked country walk - Tess (9th Apr 2020 - 20:45:01) At first I thought this was a ridiculous notion but on reflection I think you're right. The fact that you have to push the kissing gates does add a risk that wasn't there before. Loads of people are going through this now when before they could walk freely through a large gap. We walk this way most days to go and wave at my parents from the top of their driveway in Griggs Green and I always tell my son not to touch the gates and remember to wash hands thoroughly on our return (as is customary every time we go anywhere these days) Fair point.

Re: Gate locked country walk - Dave (9th Apr 2020 - 21:02:31) A lot of otherwise open gates have been shut, often on private land so as long as right of way has not been denied then landowners acting within their rights. I have heard that with local dumps being closed fly tipping in rural area is on the increase and I know locally some land owners are restricting vehicular access as a precaution. Highlights the importance of thoroughly washing your hands after going out. I suspect risk of contamination is more acute in Sainsbury’s with the touch screen self pay or the banks cash point

Re: Gate locked country walk - MikeyB (9th Apr 2020 - 22:27:19) Stay Home and if you can’t, please don’t complain about gates being locked.

Re: Gate locked country walk - Tess (9th Apr 2020 - 22:53:21) I dont really see how closing this specific gate serves any purpose given the specific circumstances we are faced with. To my knowledge it has not been closed for many many years (but I maybe wrong so forgive me if I am mistaken). People need to go on a walk. Now more than ever. To make that more dangerous than it needs to be at a time like this seems totally unnecessary. Where is our community spirit? If we have the power can we not just do what we can to let people walk safely?

Re: Gate locked country walk - E (10th Apr 2020 - 12:31:54) You are all walking to far cut back to Very local to your house.

Re: Gate locked country walk - C (10th Apr 2020 - 13:44:39) Perhaps the farmer has locked the gate to prevent green-laners and bikers destroying the new crop just starting to grow? This gate has been locked previously. Regarding being out for too long - we frequently walk on this route and it is exactly the permitted one hour.

Re: Gate locked country walk - Carole (11th Apr 2020 - 14:37:24) The landowner and gamekeepers have shut this gate in the past. Access is not denied, so are within their rights. Wash hands more than usual, or if you know you are heading that way pop gloves in your pocket

Re: Gate locked country walk - Ian (11th Apr 2020 - 18:38:55) Typical. ‘ramblers type’ attitude and overdeveloped sense of entitlement.

Re: Gate locked country walk - Rob (11th Apr 2020 - 21:08:21) There is nothing in the legislation referring to one hour of exercise. That was an off hand comment from Gove during a TV interview when he was asked how long he thought people should be out for and he said that he "thought" an hour should probably be enough for most people but it would depend on your fitness levels. I regularly walk this way when walking my dog and I must admit I've never seen so many people on that path as I have in the last few weeks. Previously I'd rarely see anyone on a walk round the village footpaths but it seems that no matter what time of day I go out at the moment there's loads of people out and about. Perhaps we'll all be fitter and healthier after all this?

Re: Gate locked country walk - Jen (12th Apr 2020 - 10:31:32) Is the gate across a path that is a public right of way? If it is, then the landowner is breaking the law in preventing access to the right of way. If it's not a right of way, then the owner has every right to lock his or her own gate. I've looked on the OS map and I can't ascertain which path is the subject of this post. There are two rights of way in that area.

Re: Gate locked country walk - Ian (12th Apr 2020 - 11:52:49) Jen - the right of way has not been blocked, gate prevents vehicular access but there is an adjoining pedestrian access that is accessible

Re: Gate locked country walk - sarah (14th Apr 2020 - 18:07:02) The gate has often been shut in the past, it is probably to deter cyclists from riding across the crops growing in the fields. As the gate access is clear the landowner is within their right, although I can see this may appear unwise at the moment.

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