This week’s photograph was taken by Benedict Roberts, showcasing Crimple Valley Viaduct in the sun this week.

Benedict Roberts

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

Councillors have recommended that two public bridleways near Crimple Viaduct are connected following a dispute.

In 2013, the owner of Rudding Park proposed a new path along a section of a disused railway on the estate in Crimple Valley, near Follifoot.

The intention was to connect the new bridleway to the existing public bridleway 61.

However, it was later found there was a gap of five metres between the two bridleways, which is on land not owned by Rudding Park.

North Yorkshire Council has proposed a Public Path Creation Order to join the two paths but the farmer who owns the small parcel of land, Craig Eastwood, opposes it and said the former county council did not follow the proper procedure.

This week, Mr Eastwood told the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee he had concerns about access to the bridleway on Fulwith Mill Lane, including an increase in footfall damaging his land as well as dogs off leads scaring livestock.

The proposal has received support from over 100 members of the public as well as groups including the British Horse Society, Cycling UK and The Ramblers.

Mr Eastwood said:

“Walkers tend to stray off the prescribed PROW (public right of way), especially with dogs and almost treat the land as a park. This costs us time and money to make good and also negatively affects our livestock with sheep in particular being worried by dogs roaming around.”

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However, Cllr John Mann, a Conservative who represents Pannal and Oatlands told Mr Eastwood rambling is a “very civilised activity” with dog walkers “almost always” on a lead.

He said:

“I ramble on a regular basis and the people I come across generally do stick to the paths that are designated. I don’t think people take liberties with landowners.”

Cllr Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley, asked if there could be improved signage to satisfy both the landowner and the council, calling it a “win-win” for both parties.

He added:

“The more people we get out into the countryside the better”.

Councillors voted unanimously to recommend that the new path is created.

The recommendation will now go to the Secretary of State to make a final decision.