Mid Sussex Area Bridleways Group

This is what Mary Parker had to say recently. Please navigate to our Past Achievements page under the heading About Us , scroll to the bottom of the page to read about some of ‘Our Big Wins 1980 – 2000’.

Following upon the Public Inquiry in September the Inspector decided that the Old Toll Road, Hayes Lane and the path joining the byway to Isfield should be upgraded from footpath to enable horse riders and cyclists to use them. Because one short stretch would also allow vehicle to pass, ESCC objected. There is now to be a period for written submissions to PINS the government body that deals with access to the countryside.

The Dead Slow campaign is a project that Alan Hiscox is now heading up. It is not known as widely as it should be to make a difference and there are many unidentified “Hot Spots”, which Alan invited our members to nominate for Dead Slow signage and support.
For example: narrow country lanes with no speed restrictions, fast roads with blind corners, those constantly in use by horse riders, cyclists, children and dog walkers who are all in danger of being frightened or hurt by reckless drivers unconcerned about other users’ needs or safety. Please feel free to contact him if you want to nominate a road you think would qualify.
Alan’s contact details are as follows: alan.hiscox@bhs.org.uk but he emphasises that you should report incidents, close passes, near misses, on the BHS ‘Horse I’ App (free to downdoad) or on the website. Get the app from the Android Play store or the Apple App Store.
He advises to get support from the local parish council if possible, and then he would contact the local highways. If possible, he would even come and visit the road with the riders.
Alan is also interested in coordinating some ‘Safe Pass Checks’, similar to the one that was carried out in 2021. Follow this link for the full story: HorseAndHound article. However, Alan needs to borrow a traffic proof horse and some members of the police.

A proposal for a route, partly over an existing footpath, which would link Iford and Swanborough.  You can see the full proposal at – https://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=R7EMH6TUIDO00

The proposal would form a link between the new bridleway between Lewes and Iford, linking it to the bridleway to the downs and to the permissive route which leads to the Egrets Way at Springbarn Farm.  So it is a very important link.

There is just one problem.  It is designated as a cycleway, just like the permissive route which runs from Swanborough to Springbarn Farm.  This means that, as proposed, it would signposted for walkers and cyclists.

Oddly, there is a reference to equestrians using the crossing of the C7 road. This crossing is part of the current permissive cycleway, which suggests that the landowner may be open to equestrian use.

I suggest that as many people as possible should write in, pointing out that equestrian groups have just contributed money to the increase in bridleways in the area and that the route should be available to equestrians.

The deadline for comments is April 1.

Chris Smith

In 2014 MSABG donated £1,000 toward funding a section (phase 2) of a one-mile path alongside the River Ouse called the Egrets Way, linking Rodmell village (bridleway Rodmell 7) and Southease (the South Downs Way) at the Southease bridge. Other local groups and organisations also made donations. A further £600 was donated by MSABG in February 2022.

The picturesque Egrets Way, Rodmell –  Southease section, before construction of the new multi user path.

The Egrets Way project got underway in 2011 and can be found in our previous post in the MSABG website’s news section (Egrets Way – phase 2 official opening).

Group committee members were hot on the trail making sure that equestrians were included in the past and forthcoming plans making sure that the routes became multi-user paths (Ref: October 2013 Newsletter page 7 & Spring 2021 Newsletter page 6).

One of the first jobs was to identify the route, which meant obtaining landowners and planning consent as well as getting funding for most sections of the path.

The route has been constructed in phases; phase 1 was opened officially in September 2012/13 and phase 2 was officially opened in June 2014. Three more phases of construction comprising five miles of path costing £2 million have now been completed.

The latest development will complete the Lewes to Newhaven part of the Egrets Way and will finally create connectively between the two towns and allows a safe and easily accessible route for people of all mobility to travel between the two towns.

The route of the Egrets Way goes from Newhaven’s Riverside Park and following the course of the River Ouse it travels north to Lewes. It passes close to the villages of Piddinghoe and Southease where it loops inland to link up with the villages of Kingston on to Swanborough and Iford and then to Rodmell. At various different locations it joins up with the South Downs Way (SDW), Bridleways, Permissive Bridleways and Quiet Lanes.

This multi-user path measuring 8.8 km in length is between 2.5 – 3 metres in width and is finished in a gravel dressing. There were about 600 users in 2016 but during last year the number increased to 2,400 showing just how useful it has become.

The distance takes the user on a journey through landscapes that are as archaeologically fascinating as well as captivating. There are sites of special scientific interest, pubs, medieval waterways, working farms, lots of wildlife and not forgetting the little Egret, the namesake of the route.

The surrounding topography is generally flat and has a network of fields divided by ditches with few fences in the landscape. Along the route there are views towards Mount Caburn and Lewes.

There is support for the Egrets Way from the following:

• The South Downs Society who support a shared user path, a link between Newhaven and Lewes.
• Mid Sussex Area Bridleways Group said it should be a designated bridleway, equestrians need safe off road access and this path now links it with the South Downs Way.
• South Downs Local Access Forum support Paths for Communities, a link to Lewes and Newhaven and a path for bridleway users.
• Cycle Lewes will encourage more cycling within the local area, it would boost tourism and open access to the SDNP.
• Cycle Seahaven said it opens up the area for the public and gives access for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, families and people of all abilities.
• Kingston Road and Cranedown Residents Association said the path is a huge success and gives benefits to other communities in the Lower Ouse Valley.

There is an Egrets Way committee which meets every few months which looks after the path e.g. wear and tear, signage, storm damage, and monitoring of users.

Hopefully riders will soon be able to use the last remaining part of the Egrets Way, (phase 6) stretching right into Newhaven, scheduled to be completed in 2022.

A useful map showing the full extent of the Egrets Way and the connecting paths that join up to it, can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ba210db4611a09b277396f5/t/6079676ddadf1639287fc484/1618569072508/Egrets+Way+Overview+EWP+FINAL+draft.pdf