RIDER RIGHTS
Says Naomi Smith
It is all too possible to round a corner on horseback and come upon a group of cattle with no prior warning -this WILL result in a horse being badly spooked at best, bolting at worst -it is only a matter of time ........... read more
BBC tv now following Leith Hill cycle row
Illegal claims over cycle track in Leith Hill
Says the BBC
Calls are being made for an independent inspector to decide whether a recently built cycle track in Surrey is illegal.
The trail at Leith Hill was constructed by Surrey County Council but it has not yet opened because of the complaint.
The British Horse Society said the path is too close to existing bridleways and the potential combination of horses and cyclists could be fatal.
The council said if the society was to take the matter to the planning inspectorate it would comply fully.
Bob Milton, from the society, said the path was illegal and that the authority had not carried out adequate consultation.
He said: "It has been constructed, it impedes access and it is on a common."
He said there was clear guidance from the planning inspectorate that had not been followed. In a statement, Surrey County Council said it was waiting for Mr Milton to confirm whether he wanted it to investigate his complaint.
It added: "Should he decide to take the matter to the planning inspectorate we will co-operate fully with any inquiry.
"In the meantime we have made a request to the landowners for the trail to remain closed for the duration of any investigation."
Julie Rand, from the national cycling charity CTC, based in Guildford, said: "There are bridleways and tracks all over Surrey that are quite happily co-existing at the moment without too much anguish and they respect each other.
"People are anticipating problems that may not actually arise."
Says Linda Wright
We moved to a Shropshire location a year ago having surveyed the local OS map and noted the significant number of bridleways around the property. Sadly the map appears a total fiction. Scarce any of the bridleways are usable ........... read more