SIR — After attending the meeting at Exford Village Hall on Tuesday July 13, I am writing to say that I was very impressed with the local speakers on the subject of resurfacing Stone Lane, at a cost of £20,000 to the taxpayer.
One asked if repairing this lane would be the "tip of the iceberg" and if more bridleways and RUPPs etc would have to have thousands of pounds spent on them to bring them up to the standard that a lone objector requires.
It seems that this lone objector has been vetting other bridleways and one of them runs through Knaplock Farm. This bridleway is known as Watery Lane.
I have been using this bridleway for 52 years. I ran a riding stables for 25 years and at least 20 riders used this track daily, and during all that time there were never any accidents. Many of the riders were beginners and some were disabled groups.
It has always been a stoney track and was described by Natural England in 2010 as a "well used bridleway to Tarr Steps" and is still used by many walkers, riders and cyclists who seem to have no trouble negotiating the rugged terrain.
Now this bridleway has become dangerous in the objector's eyes and needs several stones removed. The opposite to Stone Lane, which needs £20,000 of stones put on it!
If the stones are removed from Watery Lane, the heavy rains will soon wash the bridleway surface to bare slippery rock.
Leave the bridleways, RUPPs etc alone and when they do become dangerous then the landowner will work with the appropriate county council authorities to correct the situation.
I do not think anything should be done if only one voice is raised in objection, but if there is a majority of complaints about a dangerous path, then the situation must be dealt with accordingly.
The vast majority of bridleway users enjoy the characteristic ruggedness of the paths and do not want to see perfectly smooth paths and tarmac everywhere.
Sylvia R Manley,
Dulverton.