Villagers oppose bridleway over churchyard graves

Villagers are objecting to plans to run a public bridleway over about 70 graves in a churchyard.

In 2022 the British Horse Society applied for the bridleway to be designated through the graveyard of St Mary the Virgin Church in Maulden, Bedfordshire.

Central Bedfordshire Council refused the application in 2024, but the Planning Inspector allowed an appeal on the basis that there was documentary evidence of the route being a bridleway in the past.

Mark Weston, director of access at the British Horse Society, said the organisation would support diverting "to a route that does not impact the graves and are keen to work with the councils to achieve this'.'

He said the exact line of the bridleway – a public right of way for use by walkers, horse riders and cyclists – was for the inspector to decide after representations had been made to Central Bedfordshire Council.

Ruby Rutt, 83, was born and bred in Maulden, and her parents and brother are buried in the graveyard.

She said she felt "very disappointed and sad" about the prospect of the path going over her relatives' graves.

Rutt, who sings in the church choir, urged the authorities "to think again" and said she could not understand why the route had to go over burial grounds when there were fields nearby.

She also questioned the point of the proposed route, which comes to a dead end where it meets a footpath between two houses.

Maulden parish councillor Antonia Smith said the council was objecting to the plan on the basis that there was no living memory of the bridleway.

She urged residents to visit the council website to express their views by the deadline of 30 April.

She said generations of people were buried in the graveyard and that it was heartbreaking to think that their headstones could be removed and "their final resting place" disturbed.

"Unfortunately the bridlepath has to be established and used before any diversions can be considered," she said.

"This is the bureaucracy we are dealing with... but the law can always change.

"We have written to our MP, the King and sent letters to the Archbishop... because if this can happen here, it can happen anywhere."

A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council said that in January 2026, the authority was directed by the communities secretary to make an order to add the bridleway to the definitive map and statement, the legal record of rights of way in England and Wales.

"A small number of objections have since been received, and the case will now be referred to the Planning Inspectorate for an independent decision on whether the order should be confirmed," they added.

Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.