A CONCERNED Forest resident has been in touch with the Review after rumours began circulating that part of Littledean’s greenway would be blocked off to horse riders and, like the track at Green Bottom, would no longer be usable as a bridleway.

Julie Harris, who lives at Elton Corner, said: “The track at Green Bottom is already closed to riders as a stile has been installed.

“One of the residents of the greenway, which makes a circuit past the Greyhound Inn, down to Liitledean Corner and behind Chestnuts Wood, heard that the same was planned for that track, so he rang the Forestry Commission. He was told the track would be blocked off due to complaints about unauthorised vehicles using it, although he wasn’t aware of this and had seen no evidence of it.

“Already the track is strewn with fallen trees and, when I rang to complain I was told that they will be left to rot down, which obviously already makes access difficult.

“If we can’t use these greenways, we’re forced on to the Forest roads which is more dangerous for everyone.”

A Forestry Commission spokesperson said: “Forestry Commission only owns the section of the track in question that adjoins Chestnuts Wood just north of Chestnut House.

“We recently had a report of unauthorised use of this track by 4x4s, and have investigated this, but there are no plans to block access at this stage. Should this become a more significant issue, we might consider installing boulders towards the northern end which would still allow horses and walkers to pass through.

 “The track at Green Bottom was closed off to horse riders because it is a soft ride.  Horse riding is permitted on the public forest estate on hard tracks only because of the damage it causes to soft tracks and the resulting inconvenience to other forest users.  

“The recent barrier repair on the entrance to Chestnuts Wood has restricted horse access, as all the tracks within this wood are soft rides and therefore not suitable for horses.

 “The nearest greenway route on Forestry Commission land is in Flaxley Wood around the circular haulage road and track around the eastern boundary.  Details can be found at www.fodgreenways.co.uk

“We haven’t received any reports of fallen trees.”