Rural Payments and Services

The aim of the Stock Fence for Improving Public Access item is to protect a newly created or upgraded path from grazing livestock, and to protect users of the new path from grazing livestock.

The aim of Stock Gate for Improving Public Access item is to enable stock gates to be provided as part of a stock fence, where the new fencing is eligible and field gates are required for stock management or operational access purposes.

New stock fencing can only be used to meet the above aim, and not for any other purpose.

New stock fencing can only be selected if used in conjunction with the IPA “new path” or “upgraded path” capital items.

The stock gate item is eligible only if it is part of the new stock fence associated with the IPA “new path” or “upgraded path” capital items.

If you have shared responsibility for the fence, a Shared Boundary Agreement form must be completed and submitted with your application.

Stock Fence for Improving Public Access:

• You must erect a post and wire fence that will form a stock-proof barrier.
• There must be a minimum of six line wires or two line wires and woven wire stock-proof netting.
• posts must be placed at intervals of no more than 3.5 metre centres. (For a high tensile fence, the posts can be placed at up to 12 metre centres.)
• In addition if any barbed or electrified wire is being used on the field side it must be protected by a plain wire on the path side.

Additionally

The proposed fencing must only be on the side(s) of the path where protection from grazing livestock is required.

Proposals for double fences (i.e. new fencing on both sides of the path) will only be acceptable where there is demonstrable grazing livestock pressure from both sides, and where there is not an existing fence to provide existing protection from one side. (Double fencing has disadvantages: extensive stretches are unappealing for path users, and can hinder maintenance).

Stock Gate for Improving Public Access:

• Gates must be stock proof.
• Gates must be timber or galvanised steel, and must be at least 3 metres wide.
• Gate posts (both the hanging and slam posts) must be either timber or galvanised steel.
• If timber, gates and gateposts must be pressure-treated softwood or untreated hardwood.
• Posts must be firmly dug or driven into the ground and concreted if required.
• Gates must swing freely.
• A secure sliding bolt or latch must be fitted and useable.
• All materials must be new.
• The gate must be positioned in the fence line alongside the path and not across the path.

You can claim:

• £5.50 per metre of stock fence
• £2.75 per metre of stock fence where the fence will form a shared boundary
• £170.00 per stock gate

Stock fencing can be supported with the following capital items:

• Stock Gate for Improving Public Access
• Gate – Self closing, One-way Opening Gate
• Gate – Self-closing, Two-way Opening Gate

The inspectors will check:

• The location and extent of the work as is detailed in the contract schedule of works and contract map.
• That the capital item requirements have been met as detailed above.

Stock Gate for Improving Public Access

• The location and extent of the work.
• Gates are stock proof.
• Gates are either timber or galvanised steel, and are at least 3,000 millimetres wide.
• Gate posts (both the hanging and slam posts) are either timber or galvanised steel.
• If timber, gates and gateposts are pressure-treated softwood or untreated hardwood.
• Posts are firmly dug or driven into the ground and concreted in if required.
• Gates swing freely.
• Wire, twine or rope have not been used as latches.
• All materials are new.
• Surfaces through gates are firm, level and well drained.
• The gate is positioned in the new fence alongside the new path, and not positioned across the path.

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