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Thanks to our local correspondent Chris Smith, the ancient way between Bosham and the Itchenor ferry, west of Chichester in West Sussex, has been added to the official map of public rights of way, enabling cyclists to gain access to and from the ferry.
The claimed route. Photo: Open Spaces Society
For many years the ferry across Chichester Harbour between Bosham and Itchenor has carried pedestrians and cyclists. It is a popular journey. But the route between the public road, Smugglers Lane, in Bosham and the ferry was not recorded as a highway, meaning that an owner could close it off at any time—and indeed tried to do so.
In 2021, Chris applied to West Sussex County Council to add the route to the legal record of public rights of way. He relied on historic evidence that showed that the route was regarded as a public road for centuries and had never been legally stopped up.
Meanwhile, the owner of nearby land erected a sign saying that cycling was forbidden on the route. This sign had no legal standing, but it deterred some cyclists, meaning that they could no longer gain access to and from the ferry and therefore could not cross the harbour at this point.
A sign at the start of the path that must now go. Photo: Open Spaces Society
Following Chris’s application, the county council made an order to add the route to the rights-of-way map as a restricted byway, which carries rights for walkers, horse-riders, cyclists, and horse and cart.
There were objections to the order, so it was referred to the Planning Inspectorate to determine it on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The society was delighted that the planning inspector ruled that the route is indeed a historic road, and confirmed the order to add the way to the definitive map and statement as a restricted byway.
Says Chris Smith: ‘This is an excellent result. Cyclists and others can continue to use the ferry, and the unlawful sign will have to come down.’
Adds Helen Clayton, our rights-of-way case officer: ‘We congratulate Chris on his achievement, securing this ancient way for ours and future generations.’