NOTES FROM MEETING THURS 20th MAY 2004
of
RIDERS INTERESTED IN IMPROVING ACCESS IN WEST BERKS
at the Warren, Curridge.

Present:
Janice Bridger (Curridge/Chieveley)
Lesley Chandler (Farnborough)
Gill Hall (Cold Ash/Bucklebury)
Amanda May (Ashmore Green/Cold Ash etc)
Ted May (Ashmore Green)
Apologies:
Jane Ashbridge (Compton), Liz Bedingham (Inkpen), Candy Clarkson (Bradfield), Carolyn & David Gardiner (Lilley), Briony Grose (West/East Ilsley), Sonia Mccabe (Beedon), Liz Prest (Peasemore), Helen Taylor (West Woodhay).



1. New introductions/pubilicity:
a. Lesley Chandler: farms and runs a stud/livery yard at Farnborough; active in dealing with ROW problems in the area; husband is a West Berks District Councillor;
b. Janice had sent out 18 letters since the last meeting to potential contacts (kindly supplied by David Gardiner). There had been 4 responses, one who declined and 3 who had registered with the group (Lesley Chandler, Sarah Crane, Liz Prest).

2. Points from 1st April
a. Track numbers: Janice had the numbers for quite a few parishes. Jane had confirmed that she was willing to find out any missing numbers once those required were known. Suggestion: Janice/Jane to be asked for track numbers as required for equestrian ROWIP submission later this year. (Note: each parish council may have a plan of their ROWs on which the track numbers are given). See note below about OS maps.


3. 9th May ride
a. Six group members had attended (plus 2 riders from Beenham who just happened to be there!). The ride split into a short & longer ride after East Ilsley
b. Briony pointed out the width of the verge along the West to East Ilsley Rd- this road which is used by riders to link bridleways/byways. Ted took a number of photos which can be used to support the case for a horse track along the side of this road; the width of the road plus verge suggested that his route is an old drove road to east Ilsley?. A horse track would be inexpensive to provide. Include in the equestrian ROWIP with photos & justification.
c. Lesley: there were livery stables with quite a number of children in West Ilsley.
d. The bridleway/byway problems at the East Ilsley Oakes Bros area were visited; a number of byways/byways in the Farnborough/Catmore area; East Ilsley byway 12 (passable but like riding at the bottom of a 'V').

4. The Henley Horse Industry report & rights of way
Central government has recognized the contribution the 'horse industry' is making to the economy (see the Defra website). The need to improve riding networks has been identified at central government level but this appears not to have got through to local level. Pressure needed.

5. BHS Access conference April 2004
· Janice & Penny Reid (Berkshire BHS Chairman & County access officer) had attended the BHS Access conference in April.
· Notable contributions were presentations:
o from Leeds Police on dealing with illegal motorcycling in public places;
o from a recreational riding group in the East Midlands which was being successful in dealing with riding access issues by liaising positively with sound arguments with all the relevant authorities//parties, by covering just 2 parishes and by working on a small number of tasks at a time to improve riding access.

6. Current projects
a. Hermitage Rd, Cold Ash: Amanda reported disappointment at the poor reference to horse use of this road in the recent submission from Cold Ash Parish Council to West Berks Council, particularly after the effort put in by riders. Riders in Cold Ash encouraged not to let this drop. The lack of consideration for horse-riders could be used as an example of bad practice, if necessary.
b. Priors Court Rd, Hermitage: Janice reported that new plans for just 5 houses on the Hilliers site had been re-submitted after the withdrawal of the pre-Christmas plans for 9 houses where she had negotiated with the developer to include an off-road riding track. West Berks ROW dept has agreed to mention the need to include a track in its comments on the current plans. Janice has asked the Chieveley Parish Council to do the same. Further efforts are required to push this forward.


7. Equestrian input into West Berks new Local Transport Plan.
a. This week, Janice had spoken to Elaine Cox, West Berks Senior rights of way manager, to ascertain what is currently wanted from riders. Elaine has accepted many of our needs if the riding network is to be improved (but remember we are only one of the user groups she has to represent) but Elaine has to convince the West Berks Highways department this summer to put equestrian needs into the new Local Transport Plan 2005.

b. Elaine needs help from us so that she can justify what we want.

Letters from riders to the Highways dept are required in the next month to give Elaine the necessary support to make our case.
Janice to send around an email with addresses of who to write to. Action: Janice

c. The possibility of arranging a meeting with WBC Highways dept was mentioned.


8. Ideas for inclusion into the equestrian ROWIP

Ted/Amanda
· Development of the Pang Valley Link with re-instatement of the byway south of Four Elms on the B4009 lost by the M4 construction (Hampstead Norreys RUPP? 27) or use of other farm tracks in the area. (Would link into the existing Ilsley Downs Riding route; link to Chieveley Comminity Circuit to be identified).

· Discussion on the usefulness of the old railway line north of Hermitage to Hampstead Norreys (owned by Eling Estates).

· The lovely bridleway to Shaw from Curridge is poorly used because access is onto the busy B4009. Discussion on making a link to the Ashmore Green Rd - upgrade local footpath(s)/speak to local farmer (Houghton)?



9. Other points/ issues
· Ted: use of photos would support the case for new tracks. An excellent idea for the equestrian ROWIP.
· Inadequate horse warning signs, lack of horse warning signs, use of horse warning signs as an excuse for safer provision were discussed.
· Other riders in Lesley's yard would be welcome to participate in the group. Action: Lesley
· Amanda: a way to get maintenance issues as a priority was to ask other riders to email West Berks.
· West Berks Ramblers had formed a liaison with Newbury Day Care Centre to form the ROAR project which regularly clears overgrown paths on Fridays. Contact Fiona Walker 01635 40720 to volunteer or sjennig@westberks.gov.uk to get a path cleared.
· Parish Councils: will be consulted on the ROWIP in autumn. It is important that equestrian issues are represented in their returns. Some parish councils are aware of the ROWIP & have equestrian members.
· OS Maps. Ted: a licence from the OS costs £50 pa. Digitized maps were available. These could be useful for the equestrian ROWIP.
· Ownership of verges: Lesley had knowledge on relating verge ownership to ditches & hedge line. Relevant to getting horse verges/margins alongside roads.
· Discussion on value to farmers of improving ROWS. An annual census of farm use was conducted. While it might be thought that all farmers would encourage improvement of the ROW network, this might not be true, as income from horse activities might not be being declared.



10. Meeting with John Winkley, the horse-riding rep. for the Local Access Forum
· Those present thought another meeting should be arranged to maintain momentum and encourage enthusiasm, even though the turnout had been low for this meeting.
· John Winkley's offer to tell us what is going on at the LAF & elsewhere to be taken up & arranged for a Thurs eve or late Sat afternoon late June/early July Action: Janice


Meeting closed around 10pm