BHS launches Coastal Access Campaign for equestrians
By Amanda Stevenson
General news
17 September 2008 12:47
The British Horse Society is encouraging horse riders and carriage drivers to lobby their MPs over the issue of coastal access for equestrians.
Government proposals in the Marine Bill aim to create a national coastal access trail four metres wide (or more) in England, but currently excludes access for equestrians.
Horse riders have access to only 22 percent of the public rights of way network in England and carriage drivers only five percent. Both are particularly vulnerable when using the road network, especially as the volume and speed of traffic increases.
Equestrians desperately need new off-road routes, but the Government has taken the decision to exclude them from this new access right. Their opinion is that equestrian access to the coast can be extended by using existing legislation, or through agri-environment schemes.
However, The British Horse Society is concerned that if this approach is followed very few of these opportunities will come to fruition. The assertion that access for higher rights users can be provided “by agreement” is not one that is borne out by current practice. Not one area of land has been opened by a landowner for equestrians under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Even the Forestry Commission, a government department, has refused to do so.
The Society believes it is time the Government included the needs of equestrians in their proposals. The Coastal Access Campaign for equestrians aims to highlight the issue, and encourage as many people as possible to write to their MP, who will be able to vote on the subject of equestrian coastal access when Parliament debates the Bill.
Mark Weston, BHS Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, said: “Equestrians are voicing their concerns to us about this matter on a daily basis. This is the perfect opportunity for Government to provide more off road access for vulnerable road users such as equestrians and not just provide access for walkers who already have access to 100 percent of the public rights of way network.
“We have produced and are circulating postcards, asking for the support of all user groups and people who care about horses.”
Specific ‘Coastal Access Postcards’, which can simply be signed, stamped and posted, are available at all forthcoming major equestrian events.They may also be downloaded through the BHS website, http://www.bhs.org.uk/DocFrame/DocView.asp?id=2543
People can locate their MP by visiting www.writetothem.com