Couple misled by council blunder buys house with bridleway in the middle
- A couple has been locked in a long legal battle regarding a public bridleway that supposedly runs through their property.
- Local residents argue that they have used the right of way for decades, despite the couple's claims of ignorance during the purchase.
- The ongoing dispute has resulted in significant legal costs and tensions between the couple and local residents, highlighting the complex nature of property rights.
In Hertfordshire, England, a couple bought a historic property without realizing that a public bridleway traversed their land. The couple acquired the six-bedroom house, along with 1.75 acres of land, in 2015. Unbeknownst to them, a significant error occurred over decades regarding the official mapping of public rights of way in the area. When the first definitive map was established three years after their purchase, it incorrectly depicted the bridleway's route, leading to confusion. The couple has since engaged in a protracted and expensive legal battle against local residents, who claim use of the bridleway over the property for at least a century. This ongoing dispute involves accusations of harassment, vandalism, and civil rights over access to the adjoining path, sparking tension between the Moores and local users who assert their right to pass through the property. Legal costs have burdened both parties, with local residents reportedly spending around £50,000 each on legal fees to assert their rights. The county council acknowledged in 2020 that the signs indicating the bridleway’s path were incorrectly placed, yet the confusion remains unresolved, leading to an inquiry which was recently adjourned for a site visit. The couple has expressed that if they had been aware of the public access through their property, they would not have made the purchase.