Parish based historical research Didy Metcalf - South Pennine Packhorse Trails Trust

The countdown to 2026… -Is the current system working? -Examples of success in other councils -How a new approach might work in Bradford

Is the current system working? Not really. It’s struggling to deal with many historical inaccuracies including: Paths deleted in 1965 Uncertainty : Unclassified County Roads Confusion over privately repaired roads Objections public bodies owned the land Paths ending at Parish boundaries And, last but not least : areas for which no proper legal record was made in the old Borough of Bradford and part of Keighley.

Example: Additions and deletions from 1965, following the draft map consultation Keighley Municipal Borough Additions Footpaths: Belle Isle Road to Mill Hey. Bank House to Dunkirk. Off Cock Hill Road, Oxenhope. Along Hill House Lane, Oxenhope. Bridleway, Off Hambleton Lane, Oxenhope. Deletions Footpaths : On Morton Moor. On Keighley Moor. On Oakworth Moor. At Harehill Edge. Near Dry Clough. Near Tewitt Hall At White Hill. South of Freedom Mills. Oldfield Lane to Bent House. On Stanbury Moor. At Enfield Side. At Sand Delf Hill. North of Leeshaw Reservoir. On Howarth Moor. Off Hebden Bridge Road, Oxenhope Bridleways, Off Cemetery Lane. Near Tewitt Hall. At West Morton. At Bracken Hill Edge. At Dean Fields. Near Upwood Oxenhope. Near Thorne Bank, Oxenhope. At Sand Delf Hill. Near Cold Knoll End. At Silver Hill Bank.

What are other councils doing about this?

Devon County Council… -Identifying missing paths -Gathering user and historic evidence -Getting landowner agreement -Processing unopposed orders “This method of dealing with DMMOs has meant that a large number of modification orders are added to the map each year. 45 parishes in Devon are currently under review”. …..is carrying out parish-by-parish reviews. They report success in:

Hampshire County Council… 50 volunteers researched 30 parishes Studied Tithe, Enclosure, Highways Handover, and OS Maps HCAF applied for Heritage Lottery funding, supported by HCC Heritage Lottery Fund awarded HCAF £46,600 Dedicated project manager appointed. …have secured additional funding through a parish-by- parish approach “Discovering Hampshire’s Lost Ways”

How could it work in Bradford?

Step 1. The public are invited to a parish meeting Bradford MDC ARE YOU INTERESTED IN FOOTPATHS, BRIDLEWAYS & BYWAYS? Bradford Metropolitan District Council is carrying out a review of public rights of way in Wilsden. You are invited to: A presentation about the Definitive Map Review for Wilsden parish, on Tuesday the 12th May 2015 at 8 p.m. (in the Parish Council’s Annual General Meeting at the Village Hall, Wilsden) A short talk will be given about the Definitive Map of public rights of way and how changes can be made followed by questions and discussion. For further information please contact the Public Rights of Way Officer, Definitive Map Review, Bradford MDC; telephone: xxxxxx

Step 2. Bradford MDC DEFINITIVE MAP REVIEW 2016/17 WILSDEN PARISH (WITH PARTS OF AWLISCOMBE AND LUPPITT PARISHES) CONSULTATION SCHEDULE Proposal 1: Claimed addition of footpath Application for claimed footpath between Combe Raleigh–Honiton road and Footpath 5 at Woodhayne Farm, points A–B Grid ref: ST – Proposal 2: Claimed addition of footpath Application for claimed footpath between Combe Raleigh–Honiton road and lane near Summerland Cottage, points A–C–D–E Grid ref: ST – Proposal 3: Claimed addition of footpath Application for claimed footpath between lane south-west of Combe Raleigh village and junction of Duck’s Path with Limer’s Cross–Tracey road (in Awliscombe parish), points F– G–D–H Grid ref: ST – Proposal 4: Claimed addition of footpath Application for claimed footpath between lane south–west of Combe Raleigh village and lane leading to Worfield House, points I–C Grid ref: ST – Proposal 5: Claimed addition of footpath Application for claimed footpath between Dunkeswell–Honiton road and Combe Raleigh road, points J–K Grid ref: ST – Proposal 6: Claimed addition of footpath and claimed byway Applications for claimed footpath and byway, known as Hill Road, between end of lane near reservoir and Limer’s Cross–A373 road, points L–M–N Grid ref: ST – Proposal 6a: Claimed addition of footpath Application for claimed footpath between junction with Claim 3 and Junction with Claim 6, part of a network, points M–G Grid ref: ST – Compile a schedule of evidence-based claims

Step 3. Provide an informal consultation map

The benefits of this approach are…. -It complements the Neighbourhood Plans that are already being compiled by parish councils - The review of Rights of Way Improvement Plan is due in It is likely to increase the quantity and quality of our rights of way network and protect it for future generations

Next steps If your parish council feels they would like to take this further, please contact the LAF through our secretary at: Or contact me at: