WEST Devon horseriders are this week celebrating after the opening up of a new bridleway between Bowerland and Thorndon Cross, which improves safety for riders. South West Riders, which is affiliated to the British Horse Society, have been campaigning for the bridleway for three years and is delighted Devon County Council has now adopted it. Work is well advanced on the bridleway which runs for around a mile with a useful diversion to Ashbury. Largely running along the route of a disused railway line, the path avoids a dangerous and steep stretch of the A3079 and removes the need to cross the old railway bridge at Thorndon Cross, which is narrow and suffers from poor visibility. South West Riders? Richard Leonard said the new bridlepath would open up huge possibilities for people to gain safe access to large riding areas on north Dartmoor. He said: ?This is only the beginning of a new generation of multi-use tracks that will be open not only to horse riders, but also for cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy together and in safety away from busy and dangerous roads. This is the future.? South West Riders exists to promote safer riding for all by multi-use tracks and bridleways and safe crossing of busy roads by proper signage, rumble strips and increased awareness among both riders and motorists. South West Riders recently received a donation of fluorescent reflective tabards from South West Highways, the major highways maintenance contractor in Devon. The fluorescent clothing will be distributed free of charge to members and should provide a major contribution towards the prevention of accidents by making riders more visible to other road users. Press and publicity officer Richard Leonard, said: ?We are very grateful indeed to South West Highways for donating these tabards. They will be distributed only to our members who undertake to use them when riding on the road. They are estimated to be worth at least three seconds and will, I am sure, save lives and injuries to both horses and riders.?
