A farmer's protest
On a recent walk at Nether Broughton the Saturday group came across a wheelchair mounted on the top of a 5 metre pole, see picture. Having made enquiries we discover this is a protest from the landowner who tried to resist the county council’s insistence that a gate, not stile, be provided in a newly erected fence which crossed the footpath. It would appear that the council used Disability and the Equality Act 2010 to support their requirement hence the landowners choice of protest.
An awkward stile
During our walk we encountered a number of difficult stiles where the fence was too high and the step too low. In addition many of the field boundaries had not one but two stiles at a hedge.
Where there was a gate the party passed through with ease and appreciation.
An easy gate
So we ask you to comment below on the call from the Leicestershire Footpath Association calling on Leicestershire County Council to maintain the policy to provide gates at all boundary crossings as and when a new crossing is required.
Comments are now closed thanks if you made a comment. There was some support for stiles as they offer additional exercise and can be fun for youngsters but the majority of comments favoured gates.