Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.	This route starts from Lanterns Lane (Stevenage 104 and Aston 32 bridleway) and continues generally southwestwards, crossing Poston Place (public road), until it reaches Stevenage 97 bridleway. The Stevenage Horse and Pony Route then turns eastwards, over Gresley Way by bridge. At the time of the 2024 Access Survey (7 Jul 24), there were no obstructions on the route. There are waymark arrows to indicate the route and sections of post and rail fencing indicating the strip comprising the path.
Official Opening by Mayor of Stevenage Photo: Peter Natt, 12 Jul 2024 Pictured left (front row) are Richard Cuthbert (Hertfordshire County Council, Definitive Map and Enforcement Team Leader), Cllr Beryl Brown (Chair, Great Ashby Community Council), the Mayor of Stevenage, Cllr Helena Lovett (Chair, Aston Parish Council), Phil Wadey (PGBT and BHS) and Brian Worrell (Hertfordshire Local Access Forum). Also present were Andrew Burton (Hertfordshire County Council Countryside Access Officer), Teresa Hudson (BHS Access Field Officer for the East of England), Mark Westley (East Herts Footpaths Society) and three riders: Debbie on Tilly, Jenny on Hector, and Alison on Beatrice.		The official opening of this bridleway by the Mayor of Stevenage, Cllr Jim Brown, took place on 12 July 2024. The Mayor thanked the staff at Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council for the work to create and clear the path, and the voluntary sector for putting forward the proposal for this section of the path and funding the staff time. He noted the vision of the Stevenage Development Corporation in setting out an orbital Stevenage Horse and Pony Route and was pleased to be making part of the route a properly-recorded bridleway. Brian Worrell, representing Liddy Lawrence (Chair of the Local Access Forum), highlighted the original ambition and vision from the early days of the Stevenage Development Corporation, now Stevenage Borough Council, to have a figure of eight route around and through the town for the many horse and pony riders in the area. The vision was to connect the New Town urban landscape with the rural environment in which it was being built. It provides mainly permanent public rights of way for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and those with disabilities, largely off road in a rural setting. It complements the walking and cycling routes which are a part of the Stevenage urban landscape. Phil Wadey expressed the thanks of the user groups for the creation of the path. The British Horse Society and Patchetts Green Bridleways Trust were keen to record the parts of the Route that were useful to riders and to put in place new sections to replace those that had fallen to development. Phil noted that the Mayor had arrived by bicycle and that one of his charities for the year was the Herts Sports and Physical Activity Partnership. He hoped the provision of this new path, open to walkers riders and cyclists, would help with informal recreation for local people. Teresa Hudson noted that 66 horses died and 86 were injured in road incidents in 2023, meaning it was vital that we had a good network of bridleways and byways. She said that the British Horse Society was pleased to have contributed funding from its Ride Out UK Fund to help this path be created, and thanked all those involved.
Looking North from Stevenage 97 BW Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Continuing North Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Continuing North Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Approaching Poston Place Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Crossing Poston Place Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024
Looking North from Stevenage 97 BW Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Continuing North Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Continuing North Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Continuing North Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024	Looking South from Stevenage 104 BW Photo: Phil Wadey, 7 Jul 2024
This section of the Stevenage Horse and Pony Route has existed for many years but is not on the definitive map or Ordnance Survey maps, so was not known by the wider walking, cycling and riding public and kept clear by useage. The Patchetts Green Bridleways Trust and British Horse Society worked with Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council to have it recorded as a public bridleway. The public path creation agreement was completed on 2 Apr 2024, ensuring that this route would be a public bridleway maintainable at the public expense. Had the recording simply happened based on user evidence, the route would not have been publicly maintainable.

Legal History 1 Sep 2023: This route is part of the Stevenage Horse and Pony Route, but is not yet shown on the definitive map and statement. 18 Sep 2023: Stevenage Borough Council agree to the recording of the route if costs are covered. 2 Apr 2024: The Lanterns Lane Bridleway Public Path Creation Agreement 2004 came into force, confirming the status of the route as a bridleway maintainable at the public expense. 27 Jun 2024: HCC advise path number will be Stevenage 118.	Draft Definitive Statement (2 Apr 2024) Path: [Stevenage] 118.  Status: Bridleway.  Definitive Map sheet: 30. Public Bridleway commencing from the junction with Stevenage 97 bridleway at TL 2667 2440 (Point A on the Plan) and continues in a generally north-northeast direction for approximately 205 metres to a junction with Poston Place (public road) at TL 2675 2459 (Point B on the Plan) then crossing Poston Place and continuing generally north-north-east for approximately 130 metres to a junction with Stevenage 104 bridleway (Lanterns Lane) at TL 2680 2470 (Point C on the Plan). Width: Varies between 2.41 metres and 4 metres from TL 2667 2440 (Point A on the Plan) to TL 2675 2459 (Point B on the Plan) as shown shaded grey on the Plan. 4 metres from TL 2675 2459 (Point B on the Plan) to TL 2680 2470 (Point C on the Plan) Limitations: Subject to the mature tree located at TL 2667 2440 (Point A on the Plan).
	Maintenance This route is maintainable at the public expense by virtue of s.36(2)(c) Highways Act 1980 as it was created by a Public Path Creation Agreement.
	Location Information Postcode for SATNAV for anyone inspecting path: SG2 0BS (Poston Place).

Survey Photographs from 2023
Path viewed from Stevenage 104 BW Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Continuing South Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Continuing South Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Continuing South Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Crossing Poston Place Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023
Continuing South Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Continuing South Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Continuing South Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Continuing South Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023	Stevenage 97 is behind the tree Photo: Phil Wadey, 3 Sep 2023

© 2024 Patchetts Green Bridleways Trust. File reference: EC1121, ED248.