Residents angered by act of vandalism on bridleway

ANGRY residents have been left horrified by an “act of vandalism” on a bridleway at Appleton, Warrington.

What was an attractive countryside walkway has now been resurfaced with more than 100 tonnes of tarmac.

Local resident Bill Roberts said: “Local walkers and dog walkers were horrified at the outcome and we need answers as to why a local farmer has been allowed to do this by Warrington Borough Council?

“It can only be described as a permitted act of vandalism,” added Mr Roberts.

The public bridleway is between Red Lane and Hillfoot farm on the Appleton/Walton border.

Mr Roberts added: “Instead of repairing the odd rut / pothole sensitively and in keeping with the rural surroundings the farmer has smashed circa 100 tonnes of tarmac road planings all over about 150 meters of the lane.

“When questioned he insisted he needed to do this for access to his fields!”

But a spokesperson for Warrington Council said: “The bridleway off Red Lane serves as a farm access road to fields. The owner of the fields, which are farmed, has a right of access and needs to keep the road maintained to a level suitable for farm vehicles. The Council has a duty to maintain for horse riding and walking but not vehicular use so would not maintain for the farmer’s needs.

“On the last inspection by the Council rubble was found to be protruding from the surface and works were being planned to safeguard the public users. The farmer was informed and he noted that the rubble was the base course of the road which had eroded down to this layer through use. He advised that it needed re-surfacing and he was intending to do that.

“This event comes round every few years and the work involves scraping off the earth that has been carried onto the road by farm vehicles and the vegetation growing on it and surfacing to a suitable depth with a compactible crushed stone layer.”