Quote Originally Posted by fozzy View Post
I think I am right in saying that rights of way only apply to individuals - not to organised events. Permission still has to be sought from the landowner for events.

If I'm wrong, doubtless someone will be along shortly to correct me.
Yes, I think you are wrong. A bridleway is, amongst other things, a highway to which the public have access on foot. It matters not whether your perambulation is as part of an organised event. CROW is irrelevant, as that deals with open land, as opposed to a highway (in case someone else invokes CROW in response to this).

It is only a matter of courtesy to ask the owner of land over which a bridleway passes for permission to run an event along that bridleway. Perhaps a discussion with UU, pointing this fact out and adding to it a reassurance that steps will be taken to prevent gate mishaps occurring in the future, will result in 2012's event going ahead?

It seems a bit defeatist to throw the towel in at this early stage.