PUBLIC PATHS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME BHS Access Cornwall Home Page

The Cornwall County Council three year £2.01M programme of improvements (PPIP) to our bridleways and footpaths officially ended on March 31st 2009. However final completion of the programme has been extend beyond that date.

When the programme started we had hoped that all the "Gold" paths would be brought up to an excellent standard. For bridleways this would mean gates that opened easily and no boulder strewn paths and bogs. Unfortunately by the Council's own admission the surveys and cost estimates were not perfect and there has been insufficient money availabe to do all the work as they would like.

Not withstanding that we have seen some tremendous improvements to our bridleways and footpaths. See sample pictures below. We don't know the detail of all the work that has been done on bridleway outside of our local area so we would also like to hear of improvements that you have seen.

In West Cornwall we have seen some major renovation projects and these do cost a lot of money. Often £10k to £30k.

More information may be found on the County Council web Site: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=15663

The work is scheduled on a parish by parish basis. For the latest schedule on the work completed. CC Parish Timetable

We are hoping that the end of this programme will not mean an end to improving our bridleways and making them all safe to ride.

With this in mind please do continue to let us and the new Cornwall Council know about bridleways that are blocked or otherwise unusable or difficult/unsafe to use. Click

Below we show some examples of the good work completed by the County Council on our Bridleways

Bridleway Number 2, Warleggan 2

For some time we have shown the picture of a blocked ford on a Bridleway 2 in Warleggan. The ford was just one of a number of blockaes on the bridleway, We are now pleased to show you the pictures of work in progress to reopen the bridleway. 

The original blockage

View looking down newly carved bridleway track 
down to the ford - awaiting top surface

Another new gate on the bridleway

AView from the same spot with brand new gates

Bridleway 52 Ludgvan - Also known as Carter's Grave Lane

Bridleway 62 St Buryan

Your BHS Access Officers on Rocky Lane, St Buryan
 at the official reopening of this bridleway.
 Previously it had been a rocky gully down through the woods.

Bridleway 59 Madron
This was very overgrown it is now lovely and clear
 and major works are being done on the lower part.
Hopefully it will then no longer be known as Break-my-Neck Lane

Bridleway 58 Madron

This bridleway was a rocky gully - it has now been completely transformed

Bridleway 13 Paul where a boggy and rocky path through a lovely wood has been transformed into a fantastic and beautiful bridleway ride. See the new path over a bog

 

Finally we show you the County Council's Gold Path Badge

Originally it was the intention to It was the to mark all the "Gold" restored paths with these badges.

The Council has quietly dropped this plan but you may find the odd one about.

There is still plenty of work to do until all our bridleways are up to a "Gold" standard.

But all riders should be extremely pleased that a good start has been made towards making our bridleways a pleasure to ride.