AN ORGANISATION committed to safer off-road riding held its annual meeting recently as it celebrated five years of improving access. South West Riders, which covers horse riding in an area stretching from Bere Alston to Shebbear, held its meeting in Halwill Parish Hall. Among the 50 members attending were three access officers from the British Horse Society, the chairman of the local Rambling Club and land owners. Chairman Chris Ingram, together with vice-chairman Phillip Hackett, described how the organisation had grown out of the proposed Bowerland to Halwill bridleway, the second stage of which was now nearing completion. He said they were now working throughout a wide area, successfully pursuing multi-use of all types of rights of way, improved access to forestry and the creation of new access routes. Mr Ingram said: 'We have now been running for five years and have gone from strength to strength in achieving fair and equal access for horse riders. 'Undoubtedly, our greatest success has been in promoting a much greater understanding of how what we are achieving, provided it is done sensitively, can bring benefits to the community as a whole.' Julie Rudge, who has been working for many years to improve access in the Morchard Bishop area, gave a talk detailing how this had been achieved and the resulting benefits to all sections of the community.
