A GROUP that is dedicated to preserving bridleways has hit out at the closure of a well-used route that passes Manchester United's training ground - and claims that horse riders and others can claim continued use of it.

Messenger revealed last week that the HIMOR group has closed a half-mile private road on its land, between Isherwood Road and Birch Road at Carrington, which pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders have used for decades as a route from Flixton to Dunham and Altrincham.

But the South Pennine Packhorse Trails Trust has taken issue with the land property giant's closure decision.

It says that in cases where horse riders have used a route openly for 20 years, they can claim it as a public way.

A spokesperson for the trust told Messenger: "If horseriders have used a private road for 20 years openly, without force, and without permission, they can claim the bridleway as a public way."

She explained the process.

"Each horse rider can fill out a user evidence form - these are provided by the highway authority’s rights of way officer - to the effect that they have used the bridleway, including over how many years each rider has used the road.

"It is not necessary for all riders have used the road for 20 years - the requirement is that the road has been ridden for a period of 20 years in total."

The One Trafford Partnership - a collaboration between private contractor Amey and Trafford Council - confirmed that users of the route could put in a claim.

A spokesperson for the partnership said: “There is a legal process by which the public may  gather evidence  and statements  and apply for a path to be a  definitive right of way. 

"Each user should not submit their evidence forms individually but as part of a single application.  A pack giving details of the application process will be supplied on written request to Highways, One Trafford, Bridgewater House, 148, Manchester Road, Carrington, M41 4QN.

"The process is a legal procedure and any user evidence submitted to the Local Highway Authority, would be considered  by the council along with all  other available evidence before the council makes  its decision.”

Land property giant HIMOR claims it it has been forced to close the route to prevent "anti-social behaviour that has caused health and safety concerns." It says people have been fly-tipping, digging for bottles, and motor-cross riding on the land.

HIMOR declined to respond to the South Pennine Packhorse Trails Trust's comments.

Resident Louise Davidson claimed in a Facebook post that her mother had been using the route for seven decades.

She said: “Well that's it, Carrington Moss is officially private property after years of it being accessible to walkers, cyclists and horses for as long as my mum can remember.

“She was born in Carrington 74 years ago and still lives there, she used it as a child and still walked across it until now.

"I used it as a child for walking and playing and recently for cycling, my daughter used it for hacking with friends on their horses.”

She said the closure would put people in danger by forcing them onto the busy Manchester Road and Carrington Lane.

Stretford resident Kay Milne, who led a successful campaign to keep the rout open a decade ago, said: "It can't be shut because it is a bridle path. It has been there for 100 years."

Messenger reader Ken Unwin said: "I cycle the route regularly and have seen no evidence of fly-tipping. This action is a 'sledgehammer to crack a nut'."