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Local Authorities
Leeds City Council
Website: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Public-rights-of-way.aspx
Map of Paths online: http://cms.esriuk.com/leedscc/Sites/LCCPROW/#
Contacts: Leeds PROW Officers
In association with Pudsey Civic Society and local horse riders, Leeds City Council has published guides for two bridleway loops in the Pudsey and Calverley areas. There are some busy road crossings that you need aware of if you are riding them for the first time. You can download the guides here: Calverley Loop & Fulneck Loop
Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Map of Paths online: https://maps.bradford.gov.uk/LocalViewext/Sites/CROWPublic/#
Email: mailto:rightsofway@bradford.gov.uk
Contacts for Right of Way Officers: Bradford CONTACT row Dec 2012
North Yorkshire County Council
Email: mailto:paths@northyorks.gov.uk
Map of Paths online: http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/article/29023/Rights-of-way—maps
(You will need to tick the ‘Public Rights of Way’ box on the menu at the left of the page before it will display detailed path information.)
Local Bridleway Groups
Harrogate Bridleways Association:
Website: http://www.harrogatebridlewaysassociation.org/
To see the area they cover click here: HBA Operating Area
Howarth and Oxenhope District Bridleways Group:
Website: http://www.hodbg.org/
Shibden and District Bridleways Association
Website: http://www.shibdenanddistrict.co.uk/
Archives
Archives in Yorkshire
The West Yorkshire Archives Service – The headquarters in Wakefield holds a large collection of historical documents and houses the West Riding Registry of Deeds, which is also open to the public by appointment. Their website contains a searchable catalogue, together with information on visiting hours and advice for first time visitors. http://www.archives.wyjs.org.uk/
There are subsidiary branches in Bradford, Calderdale (Halifax), Kirklees (Huddersfield), and Leeds. The Leeds Archive has put digital copies of their tithe maps up online with the help of heritage lottery funding – http://www.tracksintime.wyjs.org.uk/
The North Yorkshire Record Office – Northallerton http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/archives
National Archives
The National Archives at Kew
The London Gazette online archive contains official notices dating back to 1665. The search facility is useful for identifying local events, such as Acts of Parliament, that may have affected paths or made changes to highways.
Old Ordnance Survey maps published on the 6 inch and 25 inch scales can be searched at old-maps.co.uk
Local Campaigns
Unsympathetic development and simple neglect can frequently result in the destruction of distinctive local features that add quality and a sense of place and belonging to our lives.
The Localism Act 2011 has made it even more important that local people get involved in shaping the way our landscape will look in the future. Here are some links to groups in our area that care passionately about providing a focus for local communities to have their say.
Yorkshire Greenspace Alliance – working to preserve the green spaces in our county
Wharfedale and Airedale Review Development (WARD) – a spatial planning community network helping local people express their concerns
BANDAG – helping to conserve the natural and semi-natural heritage around Keighley
We are also very willing to work with cyclists and mountain bikers as we share the bridleway network with them. The new Riddlesden and Morten Mountain Bike Organisation is campaigning to improve the network in their area. There are a few missing links that would make all the difference to safer happier riding and they have started a petition requesting improvements. If you would like more information, you can contact Bernard Birkett on 07581177334
National Campaigns
The National Federation of Bridleway Associations – The NFBA is the only national organization exclusively concerned with bridleways and ridden access to the countryside.