Page 177 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

CHAPTER 34

“LITIGATION 1982 / 2002”

Most things we remember are the good times in life. The fun and happy memories.
Sometimes though you just can not forget the really awful things either!
This is a longer story than some of the others and it is spread over 20 years.
Even as I write, I do not really know if it is over yet!

During our sojourn in New Bolingbroke from 1970 to 1984 it came to pass that there were
a few voluntary positions that needed filling from time to time. Some of these experiences
will be related in other stories but this particular one had its origins in our local Parish
Council of which I was a member for some 12 years or so.
Local Councillors are expected to have the interests of their local community at heart and
one of the main problems occurring in our locality during the 1970’s was the ploughing up
and consequent closing of public footpaths and bridleways by some of the “larger” local
farming community.

I must take a break here and explain that most farmers are quite happy living with their
neighbours and are very community spirited. There are just that handful in each area who
think they are above the law and just do whatever they wish and do not believe anyone
has the audacity to confront them with right and wrong!
It fell to me to propose that as one particular obnoxious family had destroyed most of our
local paths and bridleways in the village, something should be done about it!

Lincolnshire County Council, like most rural counties
has a “Footpaths and Bridleways officer”. No doubt he
or she, has many other tasks too but he does have
this distinguished title.
(Just a quick note here to explain that in England a
“Bridleway” might describe what is a “green road” or
country track in other Countries.)

The Parish Council made official complaint about the farmer in question and asked for an
investigation of all footpaths and bridleways in the area.

To cut a long story shorter, we heard nothing for some considerable time and then quite
suddenly and with as much surprise to our local farmer in question as to the local council,
we received a letter from the County stating that this particular issue was receiving close
attention and a budget had been granted for re signposting of all footpaths and bridleways
in the county!

177