---

Bridleways (Canvey Island)

The Petition of Paula Holt and others, Declares that the horse riding community of Castle Point, and Canvey Island in particular, is desperate for safe places to ride in the borough, notes that riding at Waterside Farm, the Northwick Road fields and the sea wall between Haven Road and Northwick Road are now all closed to horse riders because of barriers put up by the council to prevent motorbike riders, but which only actually stop horse riders; further notes that we need more bridleways across the whole borough and that this activity provides exercise and much pleasure for all age groups and is traditional within the borough. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Essex County Council and Castle Point Borough Council to review bridleway provision in the borough and to ensure that traditional bridleways are maintained, and new and safe bridleways are provided. And the Petitioners remain, etc. -[Presented by Bob Spink , Official Report, 9 June 2009; Vol. 493, c. 765.] [P000380] Observations from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: The Government are committed to improving the off-road riding network and believe that horse riding makes a significant economic and social contribution to many communities. DEFRA is aware that the current rights of way network does not serve the needs of horse riders particularly well and encourages local highway authorities to take a strategic view of their public rights of way network with the aim of reflecting modern patterns of demand and land use and providing better for the needs of users. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 required local highway authorities to prepare Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIPs), setting out how they intend to achieve the Government's aims. ROWIPs are prime means by which local highway authorities identify the changes and improvements that need to be made in order to meet the Government's aim of better provision for equestrians as well as walkers, cyclists, and people with mobility problems. Most authorities have now prepared a ROWIP and the evidence we have received so far indicates that local highway authorities have taken account of the needs of horse riders. However, ROWIPs are strategic and should not be prescriptive about the means by which rights of way are to be established. We would expect local authorities to look at a range of options for implementation. Essex County Council's ROWIP sets out that as part of their theme of making a more continuous network, particular focus will be on the provision of bridleways. Local Highway authorities have a duty to assert and protect the rights of the public to the use and enjoy public rights of way. This means they are obliged by law to keep rights of way open and useable. There are various provisions that assist in carrying out this duty. Local Highway authorities also have a duty to consult Local Access Forums which can have a significant input into planned improvements. Local Access Forums are statutory bodies and have representatives from user organisations and landowners. The Forums are an ideal opportunity for horse riding groups to feed in their comments and proposals for improving the bridleway network.