NOTES FROM MEETING TUE 6th October 2005 of RIDERS INTERESTED IN IMPROVING EQUESTRIAN ACCESS IN WEST BERKS

at the Warren, Curridge, Nr Newbury, Berks

Present:
Caroline Booth (Winterbourne); Janice Bridger (Curridge/Chieveley); Maggie Bridges (Stratfield Mortimer); Jilly Hawlkesworth (Stanford Dingley); Gill Hall (Cold Ash/Bucklebury);Ted May (Ashmore Green); Liz Newell-Hart (Stockcross)
Apologies:
Jo Percy (Bucklebury/Hermitage)


New Introductions: Jilly Hawkesworth


West Berks ROWIP consultation

• This was current - responses required by 31st October 05
• Jane Ashbridge had written, sent and funded letter encouraging equestrians to respond to the WBC ROWIP consultation using the list of equestrian establishments drawn up earlier by the bridleway group. Following this, Janice had had some email correspondence from Hailey ? in the Sulham area who wished to improve hacking there. Janice had suggested she mark up maps with potential routes & send them to her. No further correspondence to date. Jane had not reported any correspondence to her following her letter.
• Edits to the draft equestrian ROWIP document were to include more detail on the additional costs of keeping a horse.
  
• Gill asked whether carriage drivers were submitting ROWIP suggestions. Unknown. Gill to ask Margaret Pawson. Agreed that the ROWIP being prepared by the group would not attempt to include the needs of carriage drivers.
  
• · Janice to liaise with Ted about details on route from Ashmore Green/ Bucklebury Common/Greenham Common & include in ROWIP submission.
  
• Gill will be writing an independent submission to justify improved access (footpath to bridleway upgrade) in the Cold Ash area. The upgrades still to go in the master ROWIP.
  
• Discussion on why Ramblers can be anti-horse (make paths muddy; frightened of horses) so that these points can be addressed when footpath to bridleway upgrades are requested.
  
• Ted suggested including on the master map all the promoted routes in the Ridgeway Downs on Horseback book but Janice not sure. Need to discuss.
  
• A master map of West Berkshire with the proposed suggestions was available for viewing. Ted would like a map of smaller scale on which to mark strategic cross county routes.
  

New bridleways
Hilliers Garden Centre bridleway, Hermitage: this had been constructed and opened with a photo and press release by the developers Rivar. Article in Newbury Weekly News. Rivar keen to provide further bridleways on other sites in the area


Proposed/submitted riding routes

Devill's Circuit & Great Park Farm ride: Maggie Bridges was developing 2 routes in the area of Beech Hill, Silchester, Stratfield Mortimer which needed some improvements to promote a safe riding circuit. These will go into the ROWIP to justify the improvements required. Some of the improvements may be the responsibility of Wokingham District Council - eg. A33 bridge parapets & mounting blocks.

Link to Greenham Common: Ted in discussions with Tarmac/Rivar on using a track at the back of the racecourse






Rights of way issues

• Thatcham bridleway 18 (railway line): Amanda May had met West Berks Council officers on site to discuss the proposed new route near to Thatcham level crossing.
  
• Copyhold Farm, Curridge: a current planning application may allow re-routing of the bridleway alongside the M4 to a different position. Janice had met with agent, West Berks ROW officer and Rambler representative on site.
  
• Old Cementation site, Hermitage: detailed plans had been submitted by the developer. West Berks planning officers were aware of our request for a bridleway around the site to link Manor Lane, Oare and Chapel Lane, Hermitage. Janice wondered whether we should be more active and write in again now with full justification. Only time and energy required!
  

www.bridleways.co.uk: This organization had produced an excellent route card for the Chieveley Community Circuit and was very willing to put any more routes on its site. Maggie had sent in the Devil's Circuit but had not heard from the organizers yet.

Eling estates: Ted had made inquiries whether it was in order for Eling estates to charge riders to ride in the woodland when they receive government grants. Response awaited.

Discussion on safe parking for trailers/horse boxes at the start of rides: a list might be useful and placed on a web site (Janice had been rung up by a rider with poor local riding requesting this information).

Discussion on use of tow-paths


Gates:

• Inconvenient gates had been erected on a bridleway in Stanford Dingley. Janice to put Jilly in touch with a knowledgeable BHS access officer.
  
• Caroline asked if there was any information on equestrian gates for the Council. Janice to send BHS draft booklet.
  

JCB 15th October 2005