Rights of Way
In some exceptional circumstances, footpaths, rights of way, bridle paths and rights of access may conflict with grave location or entry into consecrated ground and some wise person has to consider the rights and wrongs. This may well involve Rights of Way Officers, Consistory Courts and even acts of parliament being in conflict. Fortunately the cases are few and far between but when they do arise the federation values the experience and advice available from member groups. In depth advice is available to members of The Byways and Bridleways Trust http://www.bbtrust.org.uk and The Open Spaces Society. the Open spaces Society is Britain's oldest conservation society, founded in 1865. Contact by e-mail hq@oss.org.uk
Friends of Houghton-le-spring Hillside Cemetery have the unusual problem that when a map was drawn up some years ago a bridle path has been shown which goes across graves on what was consecrated land and although the map may have been drawn up in error, the Rights of Way Officer considers the route to be valid.
Paul Lanagan urgently seeks advice and can be contacted on
booksofthenorth@btopenworld.com
Paul asks the following:
Does your burial ground have a public right of way through it, such as a public footpath or bridleway?
Do any of the public rights of way cross directly through the grave plots?