FARMERS, householders and land-users have grouped together to oppose a proposal to create a new bridleway from Thorndon Cross to Halwill Junction. A group of concerned residents has come together under the banner CORAL South West (Country Residents and Land-Users SW) to oppose the proposal to create a bridleway along the former railway line. Group chairman Geoff Tuke, whose garden incorporates part of the former track bed for parking and as a domestic lawn said: ?We are appalled by the County Council?s proposals and their lack of sympathy for home-owners and business interests whose livelihoods will be damaged. There is no proper consultation taking place.? He said the proposal had been promoted by the well-organised South West Riders group for two years and CORAL South West had been established to ?redress the balance?. He said: ?Our members include local horse riders, home-owners and farmers with a genuine interest in improving existing rights of way for safe use, including access for persons with problems of mobility.? Mr Tuke said the Devon County Council Rights of Way Committee had also failed to make a preliminary estimate as to the cost of the project. ?The county council has told us that it only has £80,000 available annually for its existing rights of way network in Devon. It intends to create the new bridleway within this budget - which is preposterous.? Sandra Higgins, a keen horse rider with a particular interest in side-saddle riding and a member of Beaworthy Parish Council, has also joined those voicing opposition to the proposal. ?What local riders want?, she said, ?is good quality circular routes, not a new long linear track across 33 different properties and the 40 or so gates which would impede progress. ?Devon County Council only seems to be listening to what one small group, motivated by personal interest, is telling them. Beaworthy Parish Council was not even consulted initially about the proposal and has been obliged to provide a reasoned letter of objection, but no-one from the county council has had the courtesy to reply. ?The new bridleway will cause irrevocable damage to farming, forestry and domestic interests if it is confirmed and yet the adverse effects have so far been disregarded as of no importance.? Former county council member of the Public Rights of Way committee, Tony Drake, voted against the proposal when the decision was made in principle in March. ?Issues like this should be fully discussed with the local community,? he said. ?New public rights of way should be by consensus, preferably by permissive schemes, not enforced by use of statutory powers, unless there is an over-riding social need in the light of serious accidents.? The consultation period for the proposal is due to close tomorrow (Friday, September 30). The public rights of way office at County Hall has received a high level of responses to the scheme and will bring the issue before the rights of way committee?s November meeting. ?There is currently a consultation period for this proposal,? a spokesperson for South West Riders said. The spokesperson said while they were sorry to hear of some residents concerns, they would respectfully suggest they were made known through the appropriate channels to Devon County Council. ?We are sure they will give them careful consideration,? the spokesperson added.