27/12/2025
Lovers Lane Public Bridleway 1670 , Horsham, Sussex - Ownership, Maintenance and Liability
This statement is intended to clarify the position regarding the bridleway known as Lovers Lane, accessed via Coltstaple Lane, Horsham after numerous complaints during the festive season and prior.
The bridleway itself is owned by Bourne Hill Stables. However, Bourne Hill Stables has no responsibility for the maintenance, repair, or resurfacing of the bridleway surface. Responsibility for maintenance rests jointly with the three residential properties that benefit from and use the lane, one of which is Keepers Cottage, which falls under our remit.
This position is consistent with established principles under the Highways Act 1980 and common law. While the bridleway is a public right of way, landownership does not automatically confer responsibility for surface maintenance where the duty lies with frontagers or those with private rights of access. Furthermore, under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts 1957 and 1984, those who exercise control over land or benefit from its use may be liable for injury arising from known hazards where reasonable steps have not been taken to address them.
In June 2023, an agreement was reached between the three property owners to jointly resurface the bridleway, with works scheduled to commence in July 2023. Following this agreement, one property owner sought to introduce unlimited new access points into their adjoining fields. This proposal was rejected, as it went beyond the scope of the agreed works. As a result, that owner withdrew from the agreement only days before works were due to begin, despite contractors already being scheduled.
To avoid substantial cancellation fees and reputational embarrassment, we proceeded unilaterally and funded the resurfacing of approximately 50% of the bridleway at our own expense. To date, neither of the other two property owners have contributed their agreed share of the costs incurred so far, a sum of over £40,000.
The sad thing is the way prices have gone up in the last 3 years completing the work will now cost them significantly more !
The remaining section of the bridleway has been left in a dangerous and deteriorating condition, with extensive potholes and surface failure. The situation has now deteriorated to such an extent that Horsham District Council refuse to drive along the lane to collect refuse, citing safety concerns.
It is therefore both inaccurate and unreasonable for responsibility to be attributed to Bourne Hill Stables. The duty to repair and maintain the bridleway surface firmly rests with the three benefiting homeowners, two of which continue to take no action.
For the last 2 ½ years the above have been content to spread malicious lies about who is responsible, when it is clearly their own actions that has lead to the works not being concluded.
It is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs as a direct result of the current state of disrepair. Should that happen, all three homeowners who share responsibility for the lane may be exposed to joint liability under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts, as well as potential claims in negligence and nuisance, for failing to address a known and foreseeable risk.
Finally, it should be noted for the avoidance of doubt that our tenant at Keepers Cottage has been informed on numerous occasions that:
• Bourne Hill Stables is responsible for the condition or upkeep of the bridleway; and
• Responsibility lies with Bourne Hill Stables.
It is clear that blame continues to be incorrectly directed towards us which is unacceptable and incorrect.
So if you want to vent your frustration, please direct it at the owners of the other residential properties along Lovers Lane and not our Tennant in Keepers Cottage, who suffers daily as a result of their actions !!
