Watford Rural 17

Paths Greenways Bridleways Tracks
PG: OBJECTS: PROMOTION: Watford Rural 17 Bridleway
London Orbital Bridleroute: Anti-clockwise: To do. Clockwise: Delta Gain, Alba Way, Oxhey Lane, Watford Rural 31.	H25

Annotated map reproduced courtesy of Googlemaps.	This bridleway runs from Preswtwick Road (public road) through railway under-bridge LEC1/54 (which has good headroom) and over a stream to a junction with Watford Rural 32 restricted byway. It continues south-eastwards to Delta Gain (public road). At the time of the BHS 2021 Access Survey (16 Oct 21), there were no gates across the path and it was signposted at each end. The council signs did not include the 'H25' patch that would have helped H25 followers. There were bollards to make a width restriction at each end, but these would not prevent equestrian access.		1. Sign on Prestwick Road Photo: Phil Wadey, 16 Oct 2021	2. View from Prestwick Road Photo: Phil Wadey, 16 Oct 2021
3. Approaching railway arch Photo: Phil Wadey, 16 Oct 2021	4. Bridge over stream Photo: Phil Wadey, 16 Oct 2021	5. Towards Delta Gain Photo: Phil Wadey, 16 Oct 2021	6. Sign on Delta Gain Photo: Phil Wadey, 16 Oct 2021	7. View from Delta Gain Photo: Phil Wadey, 16 Oct 2021
Back in 1998, this route was just recorded as a footpath. The British Horse Society access officer for Hertsmere sought an upgrade to bridleway in order that the route could carry the H25 London Orbital Bridleroute. Three landowners were identified: Kebbell Holdings Ltd, Network Rail, and Three Rivers District Council. All were approached with a view to dedicating bridleway rights. Mr Kebbell was first to agree, and his section was dedicated on 11 August 2000. Progress was then slow: the route was able to be used but we were unable to get the authorities to get on with the legal paperwork for the rest of the route. The dedicated path was added to the definitive map only in 2008 after Watford Rural 32 had been added to the map. The County Council picked things up in 2009 when there was an adjacent planning application. They sorted out the dedications of bridleway status from Network Rail and Three Rivers District Council. Mr Kebbell dedicated extra width for his section too. The full route was added to the definitive map on 20 Jul 2012. It was quite an effort, but all achieved in the end! Well done and thank you to all involved!

Legal History
11 Aug 2000: Dedication of bridleway by Kebbell Holdings Ltd.
28 Feb 2008: The Hertfordshire County Council (Watford Rural 17) Legal Event Modification Order 2008 recorded part of the route as bridleway on the definitive map and statement and added the junction with Watford Rural 32.
21 Jan 2010: The Kebbell Holdings Watford Rural 17 Bridleway Creation Agreement 2010, made 21 Jan 10, dedicated extra width on the original length that Kebbell Holdings had dedicated as bridleway.
18 Jun 2010: The Three Rivers District Council Watford Rural 17 Bridleway Creation Agreement 2010, made 18 Jun 10, (re-)dedicated the part belonging to Three Rivers District Council as bridleway, so enabling its recording.
24 May 2012: The Network Rail Watford Rural Bridleway 17 Creation Agreement 2012, made 24 May 12, (re-)dedicated the part belonging to Network Rail as bridleway, so enabling its recording.
20 Jul 2012: The Hertfordshire County Council (Watford Rural 17) Legal Event Modification Order 2012 recorded the three recent dedications on the definitive map.

Definitive Statement (4 Dec 2015)
Path: [Watford Rural] 17. Status: BR. Definitive Map sheet: 90
Commences from Delta Gain at TQ 1188 9357 and runs NW for approx. 50m to the junction with Watford Rural RB 32 at TQ 1184 9360, then generally W under the railway bridge for approx. 165m to join Prestick Road at TQ 1169 9357.
Width: 9m at TQ 1188 9357 narrowing to 4m at TQ 1187 9358. 4m between TQ 1187 9358 and TQ 1184 9360. Varies 3m-6.3m between TQ 1184 9360 and TQ 1175 9359. 4m between TQ 1175 9359 and TQ 1169 9357. All widths as shown shaded on the Order Plan to the Hertfordshire County Council (Watford Rural 17) Legal Event Modification Order 2012.
Limitations: None.

Maintainability
This route is maintainable at the public expense because it was a footpath or bridleway existing before 30 Apr 1959.
This route is maintainable at the public expense by virtue of s.36(2)(d) Highways Act 1980 as it was created by Public Path Creation Agreements. [Dedicated by PPCA]