Stiles : General Guidance
General Guidance | Key Design Principles | Design List | Evaluation Summary
Stiles are often constructed in the belief that they improve accessibility. In reality, stiles erected in inappropriate locations can cause inconvenience and discomfort to users and, in some instances, may severely restrict peoples' ability to gain access to the countryside. Stiles are impassable to wheelchair and pushchair users and can be an insurmountable barrier to ambulant disabled, elderly and less agile people. It is therefore suggested that a stile should only be installed as a last resort when it is not possible to provide access by means of a gap or gate. Wherever possible, land managers should look to install a gate instead, or preferably avoid any barrier at all.
New stiles should only be installed in exceptional circumstances where there is no alternative or no other type of structure is acceptable. For example, some land managers may not want fence lines to be cut to allow the installation of a gate. Should land managers have reservations about the effectiveness of self-closing gates in preventing accidental escape of livestock, every attempt should be made to address these concerns before the decision to install a stile is made. If a new stile is to be installed, or an existing one is to be modified or repaired, the design should be one that optimises accessibility and ease of use for pedestrians, whilst retaining its effectiveness as a barrier to other unwanted forms of access (e.g. by cars, motorcycles, horses or pedal cycles) or to livestock.
The area through, and to either side of a stile should be appropriately surfaced (e.g with aggregate fill or a flag stone set flush with the ground) and regularly maintained to ensure that it does not become worn or eroded, causing puddling in wet weather. Adequate space should also be provided to either side of the stile to allow users to get over it conveniently and safely. Many people using paths and tracks through the countryside enjoy taking their dog for a walk. Since stiles can be as much of a barrier to dogs as to people, two designs of 'dog gate' suitable for installation alongside a stile have also been included in this section of the Guide.
The accessibility of stiles and their ease of use can be enhanced by adopting the following 'Design Principles', many of which are based on the new British Standard 5709 for Gaps, Gates and Stiles (see Appendix 1). The Standard does make the point, however, that 'Stiles shall only be used for new structures when exceptional circumstances require them. With the exception of horse stiles ... this standard is aimed at the repair and refurbishment of existing stiles'.