CAN we, through your newspaper, once again make an appeal to ensure that we are all doing everything we can to prevent accidents involving horses and riders (and pedestrians) on the public roads?

We don?t think it is generally realised that section 130 of the Highways Act 1980 requires a highway authority to ?assert and protect the rights of the public to the use and enjoyment of any highway . . . including any roadside waste which forms part of it?. The highway authority has a duty to provide special margins for the safety of pedestrians (HA80, S66) and ridden horses (S71) alongside dangerous roads.

The verges on busy roads provide an essential safety margin for both horses and pedestrians to get out of the way of fast moving traffic. For this reason it is essential that the verges are kept clear of any obstruction that prevents them from doing so. Such an obstruction could result in a serious accident or, at worst, a fatality.

We would, therefore, be most grateful if any property owners who own land adjoining a busy or dangerous road (and very few roads do not fall into this category) will do everything they can to ensure that the verge remains unobstructed by excessive growth or obstacles and that riders and pedestrians are either not forced into the path of oncoming traffic or, at the very least, have a safe haven to use.

Nobody enjoys riding over an area of carefully manicured verge and leaving large hoof prints, but on today?s busy roads sometimes there is simply no safe alternative.

We are sure all your readers will understand that there is a very serious health and safety issue involved here that may not be immediately apparent to those with little knowledge of horses or who are not ramblers. Their co-operation and understanding will be greatly appreciated and may save lives.

Mrs Chris Ingram

Chairman

Mrs Lynne Hughes

Secretary

for South West

Riders? Committee