Minutes of meeting held on 23 September 2025 at Pickhill School. Ref: 344
OPEN SESSION: (Those present as at Item 1 below)
Mr M Barker asked about the application for a new bridleway between Swainby Lane and Maunby.
Mrs Grubb advised the matter was on the agenda at Item 4 and she read out a summary: “North Yorkshire Council (NYC) are considering an application to create a public bridleway between Swainby Lane (from where the railway bridge once stood and following the existing public footpath past Landends/Highfield Farm and continuing on the footpath behind Manor Farm along the route of the old railway line to join the existing bridleway, east of Low Swainby Farm). The consultation only takes account of public rights and seeks evidence of those rights. In other words they are seeking to establish the historical position of the route. NYC points out that matters such as safety, suitability and desirability cannot be taken into account in this process. There are means to address such matters at a later stage, if necessary, once the issue of what public rights exist has been determined. A list of supporting evidence refers to various maps and records, going back as far as 1771.”
Mr Ron Barker said he would declare an interest when the item came up in the meeting, as he owns land affected. Mr Clarke said he would also be declaring an interest for the same reason. It was agreed they could contribute during the open session. Mr Ron Barker said the route has been a public footpath but has never been a public bridleway. At the river at Maunby there used to be a ferry which could transport people, horses and cattle across the Swale. The ferry has not operated in his lifetime. He pointed out there is already a bridleway from Swainby Lane via Low Swainby Farm which arrives at the same place as the proposed bridleway. There has never been a public right of way on the railway bridge across the Swale. His research showed that old maps have a public footpath from Swainby Lane towards the river but not a bridleway.
Mr Clarke confirmed that a bridleway already exists from Swainby Lane via his farm drive to the river at Maunby and a new bridleway on the suggested route would only create a second route to the same place, a dead end as there is no way across the river.
Mrs Grubb said the British Horse Society had campaigned over many years to reinstate disused bridleways across the UK, before the register closed. Mr R Barker commented that this application was a creation rather than a restoration, as there had never been a bridleway on this route, just a public footpath. Mr Clarke would be canvassing horse riders who use the existing bridleway for their views. He pointed out he did allow horse riders along the route of the old railway line, which he owns, but on an individual consent basis.
Mr R Barker, Mr Clarke and Mr M Barker all expressed their opposition, pointing out again that this route had never been a bridleway.
Mrs Grubb summed up and advised that the consultation period is 30 days from 5 September and anyone can submit their views either to her, to include in the Parish Council response, or direct to North Yorkshire Council – email address available.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
1. PRESENT: Parish Councillors: Mr Ron Barker (Chair), Mr Graham Clarke (Vice Chair), Mrs Norma Grubb (also Parish Clerk), Mr Jim Wadsworth. Others: Mr D Grubb (Minutes), Cllr D Webster (NYC). Residents: Mrs K Barningham, Mr M Barker.
APOLOGIES: Mr Minty Scaife (Parish Cllr).
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (17 June 2025 - Ref 343): Agreed. Signed by Chair.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES: nil.
9. COUNCILLORS REPORTS. The Chair moved this item forward as Cllr Webster had another engagement.
Cllr Websters summary: 260 families homeless in North Yorkshire and 570 children in care; Benefits processing has been reduced from 9 days to 2 days; NYC has a £5m shortfall in funding; there are refuse collection delays across the County due to a variety of reasons including job vacancies and difficulty in recruiting, new shift pattern of working four days of ten hours. He was asked about asylum seekers – very few being accommodated in the county. A proposal to use the Allerton Hotel at Northallerton has been withdrawn.
Cllr Webster was thanked for his input and he left the meeting.
Continued over.....
4. INFORMAL CONSULTATION : WILDLIFE & COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981 – Definitive Map: Application to add a bridleway and upgrade public footpaths 10.116/7/1 & 10.144/1/1 to a bridleway – Swainby Lane to Maunby.
Mr Barker and Mr Clarke both declared an interest as affected landowners and stood down for this item, joining the “audience”; Mrs Grubb took the Chair. She pointed out that whilst the matter had been discussed at length in the open meeting, there was a requirement for it to be discussed by the Parish Council. However, as two members had stood down and Mr Scaife had been called away on business, the meeting was not quorate for this item. She advised that she proposed to discuss the matter without a formal vote and to consult Mr Scaife on his return and then formulate a response to NYC accordingly.
Mrs Grubb said she had seen no documentary evidence that a bridleway had ever existed along this route and certainly not in living memory, having consulted residents who had lived in the village for over 70 years.
The main line railway ran along the entire route of the proposed bridleway for 120 years until 1963, hardly compatible with a bridleway alongside. She was aware that there is a bridleway from the continuation of Swainby Lane, through Low Swainby Farm to the same point as the proposal and as there is no route across the river, it is a dead end, so it appeared to her pointless to now create a second route to nowhere. She understood there had been a ferry across the Swale which could transport people and livestock including horses, but the ferry ceased early in the 20th century. Her opinion was that as there had not been a bridleway on that route in the past she was not supportive of its creation.
Mr Wadsworth said his view accorded with that of Mrs Grubb – “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
5. PLANNING:
1. New Application: Whitby Lodge, Pickhill: construction of single storey extension to side of existing house. Mr Barker outlined the proposal for a shower room and boot room. Agreed: no objections.
6. FINANCE:
1. Update: The Parish Clerk provided an update on the current account. The pads for Sinderby defibrillator have been routinely replaced (two year shelf life) at £72.19.
2. Setting the Parish Precept for 2025/26: She proposed a similar increase to recent years at 10 per cent, from £4,620 to £5,082. With the increase in homes in the Parish this spreads the load and will only result in an increase of pence per month per home. Agreed.
3. VAT Re-claim for period 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025. A re-claim was submitted to HMRC on 11 September for the VAT paid in the period, amounting to £936.72. Noted.
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7. PROJECTS:
1. Pickhill Village Green improvements: The new goalposts have been installed. The parking signs are having an effect with a marked improvement in incursions onto the Green. The three new benches were installed in time for the Stawberry Fair in July. Noted.
2. Pickhill Playground: The volunteers days this summer were a resounding success. On the first Saturday, before the Strawberry Fair, half a dozen residents assisted with power washing the fencing and all the playground equipment. The painting day had to be postponed from mid July until early August due to adverse weather, but again several residents and youngsters gave up their time to apply preservative to the fencing and playground timber, whilst the climbing tower and climb poles were painted in rainbow colours, making a huge difference. Fence palings have been screwed in place and trip hazards removed. Thanks to all those concerned. A new sign at the playground entrance complies with the latest legal requirements. The ROSPA inspection is due during September. Noted.
8. CORRESPONDENCE: (circulated to councillors in advance of meeting)
Mr Barker referred to a circular from Citizens Advice seeking a donation from the Parish Council. The view in the past has been that as the Parish Council’s funding comes from the precept levied on our residents, funds should only be spent within the Parish so he proposed that we decline making a donation. Agreed.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None
Signed: R Barker Dated: 4 Nov 2025 New Paragraph