Memorandum submitted by Mrs Catriona Cook
(DMB 27)
Access to the coastal strip should have a presumption
that it is for all non-motorised users; that is walkers and riders
of horses and cycles. For the following reasons:
1. The consequences of it only being for
walkers will mean that in many areas customary equestrian access
is restricted. This happened with the Right to Roam, whereby land
managers locked many routes which were regularly ridden but not
formally recorded as byways or bridleways. The majority of equestrian
access to beaches is similarly not formally recorded.
2. 95% of those equestrians who hack out
are female. To deny them increased access whilst increasing it
for walkers is discrimination. Many women and children are happy
to ride alone since they feel safer on the back of a horse, rather
than being on their feet alone. It is a government aim to increase
exercise opportunities for all, this would be an excellent example.
3. It would be best value when using public
funds to include all vulnerable road users. It would also allow
family groups, walkers with children on ponies or cycles, to access
the coastal strip.
4. Those Local Authorities with coastline
will inevitably divert resources away from other rights of way
work; further disadvantaging equestrians.
5. Equestrians do not have a network of
off road routes, so their lives are at stake when having to ride
on increasingly dangerous roads. This again means they are being
discriminated against, whilst walkers who do have a rights of
way network and the right to roam, benefit once again.
6. Safety. The argument that many coastal
paths would not be suitable and thereby dangerous is accepted,
but many existing moorland bridleways are dangerous, so riders
do not use them. It does not mean that they are extinguished or
closed; they are still there for future generations, if they should
so wish to maintain and improve them. There should be a presumption
that routes are multi user and a responsibility put upon the user
to act with due caution as to their own and others safety.
7. The Minister was concerned that opening
the coastal strip to all non-motorised users would allow climbers
access to the cliffs. This could be covered by a specific restriction
on climbers.
8. Many of us have the desire to ride right
round the coast, why should this be denied to us?
Mrs Catriona Cook
May 2008
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