A CAMPAIGN to open up safe routes for riders in West Devon is picking up pace, following the publication of a 100-page report by a local pressure group.

South West Riders, which is affiliated to the British Horse Society, is working to establish a bridleway from Meldon to Cookworthy Forest, using the disused railway line.

Such a route would provide safe access to the moors, the forest and the many bridleways that abut the busy A3079.

Chris Ingram, chairman of South West Riders, said the report was the result of extensive research into multi-use or shared trails for walkers, cyclists and riders throughout the country.

It has been sent to Devon County Council, West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett and the environment minister Alun Michael.

Chris said: ?We?ve had responses to this from all over the country and I think the minister was very impressed with it.

?We are currently using it as a negotiating point with Devon County Council, using the example of the Camel Trail, which has just opened up a new section, open to all, which is working wonderfully well.?

Chris said a safe, off road route which was open to horseriders as well as cyclists and walkers would be a ?huge asset? to the area.

?We?re trying to generate as much interest in this as possible and open people?s minds to thinking about this in a slightly different way.

Our research has shown there doesn?t need to be any conflict between users ? it doesn?t happen in Durham or Derbyshire where they?ve been running this system for 30 years,? said Chris, who said South West Riders hoped to even the balance between off-road routes for cyclists and riders.

?In Devon there is not one recognised route that horseriders can use. There are 650 miles of routes for walkers, 1,057 for cyclists and none for riders. The National Cycle Network uses bridlepaths, but there are no reciprocal rights for riders,? she said.

She said Devon County Council was to negotiate with landowners to open the section of disused railway between Venn Down Gates and Thorndon Cross.

A spokesman for Devon County Council said negotiations were at a ?very early stage? ? if and when the section opened, it would be a ?low standard?, untarmacced path for riders and walkers, which could be used by mountain bikers.

He said the county did all it could to accommodate riders on cycle paths, but on narrow tracks with restricted vision, safety could be compromised for all concerned.

John Burnett MP confirmed he had received the report from South West Riders.

He said he had written to the county council to ask their views and was happy to meet with South West Riders to discuss the issues further.

Anyone interested in finding out more about South West Riders should call 01837 871403 or 01837 871231 or visit the website at http://www.southwestriders.s5.com/">http://www.southwestriders.s5.com/