slartybartfast wrote:
if the gate is locked then it is an illegal obstruction on a public right of way and county council are legally bound to have the obstruction removed,or you could cycle down the lane with ahacksaw and remove the lock yourself so long as you did not go out with the intention of removing the lock but just happened to be carrying the equipment as you were carrying out some work down at the lake(lets say), if its a bridlegate ie allows access for horses and cyclists tough luck,try the NRA they might have a different take or try for right of passage by dedication due to unhidered passage by motorvehicles for 20 years,
yours in the minefield that is rights of way
slartybartfast
You can remove the lock and chain from the site and hand it in to the police as 'evidence' of the highway being obstructed (that's assuming the gate makes the path impassable to horses and/or cyclists). It's a criminal offence to obstruct the highway.