East Berkshire Group
East Berkshire Group have been working for 16 years to get stiles replaced with more accessible alternatives. The Group realise that traditional stiles are inaccessible to many people – older people, families with pushchairs, wheelchair users – who could otherwise enjoy the countryside.
Like many local Ramblers groups, East Berkshire Group publishes profitable walking guidebooks. The committee decided that the extra funds these books bring in could be put to good use by offering to pay to replace stiles with a better alternative – as long as the local authority agree to install them. Three key Ramblers charitable aims are: ‘improving access to the countryside’, ‘protecting the rights of way network’ and ‘promoting walking to all ‘– all of which are implemented effectively by this scheme.
The replacement gates come in varying styles. The basic gate, accessible by all, is the ideal choice. Where stock control is needed, kissing gates provide differing levels of access; pedestrian only (a traditional gate which opens for someone on foot), medium mobility (a kissing gate suitable for pushchairs) and full-mobility (a kissing gate which can accommodate both manual and motorised wheelchairs). Some metal kissing gates are operated by a radar key padlock. Gates range in cost from £92 to £279 (excluding VAT). Why not simply install the full-mobility gates? Because some footpaths, particularly those that cross fields, are on terrain where a wheelchair can’t be used.
The group know the local rights of way network well and keep a regular look-out for places where it would be beneficial to replace a stile. They prioritise routes which are publicised in their Rambling for Pleasure Guides or note where a current stile is falling into disrepair. They then check they have the funds available for that financial year and approach the local authority. The local authority liaises with the landowner and installs the gate. Each gate bears a plaque which states; “Gate donated by the East Berks Group of the Ramblers’ Association”. A total of 21 gates have been donated at a cost of £4,215.
Making the local footpath network more accessible means that East Berkshire Group have been able put on some really successful joint walks with the Disabled Ramblers – a walking group for disabled people affiliated to the Ramblers’ Association.
Margaret Bowdery, the Footpath Secretary for the Group says “We believe that no one should be barred from enjoying the countryside due to unnecessary stile obstructions. Many of these structures are obsolete, or even illegal, where they have not been authorised by the Highway Authority. A check of the original Definitive Map Survey often reveals that the public were enjoying better access in the past via gates, a useful source of evidence to gain stile replacement.”
