NOTES FROM MEETING FRI 26th Nov 2004

of

RIDERS INTERESTED IN IMPROVING EQUESTRIAN ACCESS IN WEST BERKS

at the Warren, Curridge, Nr Newbury, Berks

Present: Jane Ashbridge (Compton);Janice Bridger (Curridge/Chieveley); Gill Hall (Cold Ash/Bucklebury); Richard Maxwell (Bucklebury);Ted May (Ashmore Green).
Apologies:
Caroline Booth (Leckhampstead); Maggie Bridges (Beech Hill etc); Chrissy Davies (Mortimer/Bramley - north Hants); Amanda King (BHS southern regional road safety officer); Briony Grose (West/East Ilsley); Liz Newell-Hart (Stockcross); Jo Percy (Bucklebury); Penny Reid (Lambourn)

1. Introductions: Richard Maxwell from Bucklebury
2. Points from 26th Sept meeting (not on agenda)
· New A34/M4 bridleway bridges at M4 junction 13:
Following a safety audit on 18th Nov where Janice was the sole BHS rep, mounting blocks (as previously agreed between the Highways Agency & the users in a letter of 13 Feb 2004) are to be installed on both bridges.
· New linear route just west of Reading from Hampshire Downs through Bramley area to Theale, Sulham & Purley/Pangbourne to form a circular ride around the North Wessex AONB:
Janice had sent the idea to Brenda Wickham who has developed many linear routes. No reply to date. Ted reported that the spiral ramps on the footbridge west of Theale were for use by cattle & to link a farm split by the M4. A snappy name for the route was required.
3. Mid & West Berks LAF 19 October meeting & 29 Sept meeting of South of England LAF members:
John Winkley had kindly sent a useful summary which had been emailed to the West Berks Riders group members previously. The group was listed as one of the 'areas of linkage' for the West Berks ROWIP and mentioned as working with West Berks Council Rights of Way dept and the LTP planners and highway designers. The latter was presumably after the letters sent in by members of the group to the Highways dept. So, we are on the list, our views are wanted but there are many other users/groups to consider.
4. Slippery road surfaces (SMA) in the area
Gill had contacted West Berks Council Highways dept to ask what road surface is being used on Hermitage Rd, Cold Ash. The reply was that we were lucky in that hot rolled asphalt and not SMA was to be used. No further information on the use of SMA in West Berks.
5. Update on local route improvements/repairs etc
a. New A34/M4 bridleway bridges at M4 junction 13
· Janice had attended a safety audit at the request of the HA. Penny Reid had been unable to attend. Mounting blocks are now to be installed. Ted has sent a spec - there did not appear to be a BHS spec; there are concerns over access of a loose horse to the road network (not as easy to sort out as might be expected); erection of gates (or leaving of gaps) to prevent vehicular access to bridleway bridge) discussed. Ongoing.
· Formal opening 7th Dec by invitation of Highways Agency: Patrick Print (BHS chairman), Brenda Wickham, Penny Reid, Andrea Jackman and Janice had been invited but Gill Hall, who had helped with the public inquiry and its preparation, had not. This was unsatisfactory.
· Additional events:
- Ramblers doing a walk incorporating the bridge(s) on 27th Feb.
- Jane to liaise with Janice on the possibility of doing an escorted ride from Curridge incorporating the bridge(s) as part of the Berkshire Downs Riding Club programme perhaps in BHS access week Action: Jane/Janice
b. Chalky Lane Curridge: completely repaired with Costain (A34/M4 contractors) supplying the materials and West Berks Council the labour costs. Just amazing!!
c. West/East Ilsley: some of the problems reported by Briony Grose repaired
d. Bucklebury: bridleway 10c repaired and old sleeper bridges removed
e. Ridgeway: vehicular TRO on West Berks section delayed but coming into force mid Dec to March. Jane reported that police enforcement of unlicensed vehicles using the route was being successful.
6. Current projects
a. Cold Ash footpath to bridleway upgrade: planned. Gill was expecting objections from the inquiries she had made.
b. Link Crabtree Lane to Doctors lane, Hermitage: Jane suggested that Janice should contact the planning officer to ensure the bridleway recommendation was included in any legal agreement Action: Janice
c. Route through Arena site, Hermitage was raised. Janice had thought about it in the past but was not convinced of its merits. Probably too late in the planning stage (Jane).
7. Contributions to equestrian West Berks ROWIP
· ROWIP consultation letters from West Berks Council to go out in early New Year. Three months to get replies back.
· Janice was open to suggestions on how to improve the current draft that she would update over the Christmas period & re-send to group. Group to be told of deadline for replies to stimulate responses Action: Janice
· Maps (black and white to allow copying) to be provided where possible - copyright issues? but street/multimap or Magic might be used.
· Parish Councils are being consulted by West Berks Council. Jane suggested riders should write to their PC with ideas to ensure riders' needs were represented, in addition to sending in ideas for the equestrian ROWIP to Janice. PCs have to respond to letters. Note: riders are a 'hard to reach' group as many do not live in the parish in which they ride.
· Individual riders could respond to the West Berks consultation individually if they wished.
· Elaine Cox had asked the group for a list of equestrian establishments in West Berks that she could send the consultation letter to. Group members to send suggestions to Janice. Janice to compile preliminary list and send out an email asking for additional establishments Action: Janice/ all
· Jane suggested that these establishments should be sent a letter from the group explaining what this was all about and encouraging them to reply for their and other horse riders benefit. This was thought a good idea but Janice declined to do this due to work overload. Action: Jane?
· Tracey Martin (Lambourn) had recently sent in her suggestions
· Hermitage - Hampstead Norreys railway line, Eling Estates. Janice had heard that the Ramblers were including it in their submission as a footpath. Should we include it but as a bridleway? The railway line was included in the current Defra Forestry Scheme and the public currently allowed to use it. It might not be possible to include it in the new ELS/HLS schemes which have payment for access and the Estate may not wish it to become a permanent public right of way. We at least should make it known that it is a useful riding link. Perhaps a note should be put in the equestrian ROWIP describing its use from a riders' point of view? To be resolved. Sonia McCabe had been asked to assess how many riders/yards would benefit. No response yet.
· Sections of Lambourn Valley Way to upgrade to bridleway status:
· The section between Donnington Castle and Bagnor had been suggested by Keith Tomey Snelsmore Ranger - useful - include in ROWIP.
· The group thought that it would be best to assess useful & suitable sections of the LV way rather than ask for the whole route to become bridleway status. Surveys required
8. Review of riding areas
· No further progress was known for the areas discussed on the 3rd Sept agenda. That is:
· North Hants - Bramley/Stratfield Saye area (Chrissy Davies, Maggie Bridges) but these were not to be included in the West Berks ROWIP as they are in North Hants.
· Theale/Tidmarsh/Sulham/Bradfield (Candy Clarkson)
· West Woodhay (Helen Taylor) Those present had their ideas formulated. It was up to those on the email list to develop routes in their area if they wished to get improvements.
9. Future talks/training/meetings
a. BHS Southern Region Access officers; there is to be a meeting on 8th Dec. A short discussion on BHS Access identified that the 'on horseback books' had been a good initiative but needed to be updated; the web site was not thought adequate - .pdf files should be available to download leaflets immediately, not SAEs asked for; the recent ambassadors initiative had not been well received.
b. Ramblers meeting in Jan/LAF training in Jan/Pang Valley walk - an email had been sent around on these events.
10. Any other business
· Gill: a permissive bridleway had been developed in the Ashamptstead Common/ Buckhold area to get riders & others off a busy road - see Pang Valley newsletter. Stewardship scheme?
· Amanda: the signposting on Snelsmore Common was unclear. Janice agreed and had mentioned it to the ranger earlier in the year.
· Group members to consider sending a Christmas card to the Rights of way team at West Berks, Faraday Rd, Newbury, if they thought it appropriate. Action: All
· Janice apologized for not sending around the agenda along with the other papers!
· Those present thanked Janice for the hospitality

11. Next meeting
Those present thought another meeting should be held near the deadline for the ROWIP submission:
Tuesday 1st March 2004 7.30pm, same venue