Aim 5
Increase access to off-road riding and carriage driving increasing provision of off-road equestrian routes and an effective network of public rights of way is a huge concern amongst many horse owners and riders.
Action 26
Achieve greater cooperation amongst existing access organisations - Develop an agreed structure within the Industry in order to coordinate access interests, achieve greater cooperation amongst access bodies and ensure that knowledge and skills are marshalled to best effect
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener) to lead, in conjunction with other access interests within the Industry
Action 27
Engage with lead bodies in other fields - The Industry must engage with the lead bodies in other fields, such as the Ramblers Association and Sustrans, to learn from their successes, and identify common causes to improve access for riders and drivers
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener)
Action 28
Local equestrian rights of way and public access - Local Authorities (LAs) to consider the Industry's needs and to advertise and promote successful initiatives. Horse Industry to contribute more effectively to local rights of way and planning processes and resulting Local Transport Plans
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener) and Local Access Forums (LAFs)
Action 29
Coordinated Plan for improving Statutory Equestrian Access - To produce a definitive report outlining the true picture of equestrian access in England and Wales, and presenting a coordinated plan for protecting existing rights and improving these where possible
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener)
Action 30
Publish a Good Practice Guide for those interested in expanding local access for riding - Organisations interested in expanding non-statutory access for riding would benefit from a Good Practice Guide incorporating the advice from those who have already learned their lessons the hard way
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener)
Action 31
Equestrian routes on farmland, woodland and coastal areas - Discuss and negotiate with Defra, the Rural Development Service (which administers Agri-environment Schemes) and other bodies to see how new land payments will affect existing and potential access on farmland; and also address other issues which concern landowners, with the aim of designing attractive 'packages' that will allow local authorities and local riders to negotiate with local landowners
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener)
Action 32
Toll rides - In conjunction with Action 31, incorporate toll rides, if viable, in the packages that local riding groups can discuss with local landowners as an addition to an adequate basic public provision
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener) - including Toll ride organisations
Action 33
On-and off-road safety campaign - Further discussion with Department for Transport on the development and delivery of a campaign to educate riders, carriage drivers, cyclists and motorists both on and off-road routes
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener)
Action 34
Urban and suburban riding and driving - Mount a high profile campaign to alert people, local authorities and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the benefits of equestrianism, the availability of urban riding and driving and the need to provide equestrian facilities to serve areas of major new housing development
Responsibility
Equestrian Access Forum (Mark Weston as convener), with BEF(Paul Frost)
Please be assured of your privacy and that your address will be only be used to send you information about the British Horse Industry Confederation.
