From: Fiona Evans [mailto:caerberllan@talktalk.net] Sent: 19 July 2013 16:29To: Wendy CampionSubject: Pisgah to Llanfiangel-y-creuddyn Restricted Byway

Dear Wendy

I completed the attached report on the 'Pisgah to Llanfiangel-y-creuddyn Restricted Byway' in March this year but wanted to get advice on the signage and to speak to local riders before sending it in to you.

This used to be a popular route between the two valleys but has become impossible to ride. Riders and walkers/runners are keen to use it again.

The main problem, that we saw (we did not walk the whole route) is a 20m stretch effectively along the bottom of a length of a steep sided drainage ditch with post and rails to stop users trying to find a useable route alongside in the field.The drain has a firm stoney base so it is our collective opinion that by using a mini digger it would be possible to widen the passable surface of the route to approximately 0.6 m minimum so that horse riders can ride through once more.

Currently the problem is the profile of the drain base (ie the b/w) is far too narrow and effectively shaped like a gutter approximately hoof wide which is alarming to horses as they could break a leg, and therefore dangerous to ride.I, myself had a near miss accident here a few years ago when my horse did not want to tread in the 'gutter' so instead leapt up onto the sleeper built bank by the gate.The route is also very difficult/impossible to walk.

I would be grateful if you could let me know what the Council intend to do with this route which is obstructed and out of repair ?

I would be pleased to attend a site visit there if that would be helpful.

Regards

Fiona Evans

BHS CABO CeredigionChair Ceredigion Bridleways Group

- Pisgah to Llanfiangel-y-creuddyn Restricted Byway Visit 9th March 2013

Gates entering Llwyncrychddod yard and outbuildings on R/B from Pisgah direction.(R/B open thus far) Note Llwyncrychddod house is separate and is well down to left behind the blue car down an access track. See photo 3 B/W sign directs through the gate in the foreground then through the gate in photo 3 – ahead and slightly right in this photo.

Same signs on gates above-close up view-“beware of the dog enter at your own risk”

Gate leaving Llwyncrychddod yard B/W sign on gate post directs up and to leftthrough gate (soft disturbed ground) and appears to be sharp left down fence line.

Photo taken facing back upslope up B/W route with yard up and to right and house down below – very steep slope for riding up and probably not possible for most people to ride down.

Looking along Llwyncrychddod house track -note stile-FP in this area see map.

View to garden gate of Llwyncrychddod house with FP up steep slope to left . R/B used to go in through garden- at this gate or just down slope- as R/B restarts with reasonable gradient along fence to right in foreground.

B/W at ‘gorsey’ gate SN671767 north side looking south

B/W gorsey gate looking north back up slope

B/W gorsey gate on south side with sleeper step

Continuing south to next gate at top of B/W drain section where route goes down an over-deepened drain 2m below field surface level. Drain has firm stoney base. Note railway sleepers to support soil bank. R/B goes down along the route where Dick is standing –in the drain.

View from above to left to north – not on R/B-post and rail to stop riders getting onto field edge and out of the drain.

View down from top gate drain section R/B in very deep and narrow drainFor c.20m length

Down drain to B/W gate in distance by house and garden to west of Felinucheldre

Post and rail at south end (looking up slope to north) to stop riders riding out of drain R/B at down slope end

Closer view of B/W gate by house and garden to west of FelinucheldreDifficult to see route overgrown but passable and narrow

View beyond above gate – garden edge overgrown-next gate in distance

View through above gate with next B/W gate visible in far distance other side of field straight across by evergreen tree.

We did not walk any further on this occasion towards Llanfiangel-y-Creuddyn.

SummaryR/B from Pisgah to Llwyncrychddod yard and outbuildings-track used for access to house/yard so open- includes tarmaced section down steep hill just before yard. Council gates fitted by cattle grids etc.

1)Problem –an aggressive Alsatian dog has on previous runs through by Dick (not seen on our visit) approached him in the vicinity of the “beware of dog sign” at Llwyncrychddod yard. Is the sign and dog legal on a R/B as it is a form of threat to deter people?

2)Problem- the R/B is signed by the Council on to an extremely steep grass slope as part of a diversion in the past. This route is difficult to ride up but possible-the main problem would be riding down so it would be best to have a zig-zag route ?

3)Main Problem- the natural drainage on OS map appears to have been diverted in the past from the middle of the field to down the route of the R/B which now means the route is down the length of an over deepened 2m deep in parts drain which is now too narrow and dangerous to ride. Main problems along 20m length or so. 4)Problem-the section to the west of Felinucheldre is a little overgrown (and planted with daffodils as a rough garden area) and narrow, through lack of use. It appears the landowners have got used to the B/w not being used.

Fiona Evans and Dick Squires, 9th March 2013.-