Support

Representation ID: 6687

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: The British Horse Society

THEME 1.
“improving, enhancing and creating green infrastructure and spaces”

“Develop a strong and multi-functional urban and rural green infrastructure network through protecting, enhancing, extending and linking landscapes, woodland, biodiversity sites, heritage sites, green spaces and paths.
Improve access to green and blue infrastructure for the enjoyment and health of all.”

The BHS fully supports this as a key Theme for the Local Plan – provided that ‘all’ does include equestrians. The use of the word ‘paths’ may indicate a focus on footpaths and cyclepaths. I suggest that the word is changed to ‘rights of way’ or to ‘multiuser routes’ so as to be more inclusive.

Note that Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030 Policy 91 iv. states that all new routes should be multiuser routes and dedicated as bridleways with a minimum width of 4 metres.

And the Rights of Way Improvement plan includes:
• At 5.2: Where possible all new routes created will be to a multiuser status (such as bridleways) where there are appropriate linkages of the same status.
• and aim 3.2c: Identify opportunities to increase the size of the bridleway net- work to provide more links and loops for circular rides.

As regards the health benefits of access to green infrastructure, research undertaken by the University of Brighton and Plumpton College on behalf of The British Horse Society has shown:
• The majority of leisure horse riders are women (90%) with more than a third being over 45.
• Horse riding and activities associated with horse riding, such as mucking out, expend sufficient energy to be classed as moderate intensity exercise.
• Horse riding benefits people with a long-standing illness or disability
• Active women raise active children.

Theme 2
“Encouraging sustainable travel”

“walking and cycling more attractive to encourage an increase in more sustainable and healthy modes of transport.”

I note that the Borough’s Active Travel policy was issued in December 2010 and has not yet been updated. It makes no reference to horses.

During the Parliamentary Debate on Road Safety in November 2018 Jesse Norman, Under Secretary of State for Transport, stated that “We should be clear that the cycling and walking strategy may have that name but is absolutely targeted at vulnerable road users, including horse-riders.”

It is now acknowledged that horse-riding is as much an ‘active travel’ mode as recreational walking or cycling. At the recent Parliamentary Debate on Active Travel in Westminster Hall, Robert Courts MP proposed that “horse riders…ought to be thought about in the context of active travel as well.” This was endorsed by Michael Ellis, Minister of State for Transport, who confirmed that “Active travel includes horse riders and bridle paths – this debate includes them.”


This has been recognised by other councils within the Arc. For example James Palmer, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor has stated in a recent transport consultation: ‘Active Travel – cycling, walking and horse riding: promoting active and sustainable transport like walking, cycling and horse riding are key objectives at a national, regional and local level.’ Cambridgeshire’s Local Transport Plan defines Active Travel as: ‘Active Travel: Physically active modes such as walking, cycling or horse riding.’

Bedford Borough should do so too.

Theme 3
“Improve the borough’s transport infrastructure in order to support growth in the local economy and to make the borough more attractive as a place to live and do business.”

The points made in response to Theme 2 as regards the inclusion of horses within the Active Travel element of the transport infrastructure apply here too.

In addition, there is an opportunity for the Borough to gain economic benefit through the expansion of its existing equestrian assets to encourage more economic activity in the more rural areas of the Borough. We have the potential to have one of the country’s leading equestrian competition centres within the Borough with the significant improvements and developments planned (subject of course to planning consent) at Keysoe International. This is likely to become something of a magnet for equestrians and could form the cornerstone of an expansion in the equestrian economy of the Borough.

Equestrianism is a popular activity in this part of the country and one which already contributes significantly to the local economy. Nationally equestrianism is the second most valuable contributor to the rural economy after agriculture – with horse owners requiring many support services from vets to livery to feed and more. Policies that encourage expansion of this economic activity, particularly within the rural parts of the Borough, would sit well alongside the policies to expand businesses within the identified development areas.

Theme 4
“Better places – Developing high quality, well-designed and beautiful places for all to use and enjoy”

“Support and create a high quality, inclusive and safe built environment which values local landscapes and settlement character, and which conserves and enhances the historic environment to be enjoyed by all.”

Again these are objectives that resonate with equestrians provided that ‘all’ includes us!

This theme might also include access to green spaces and green infrastructure as part of the definition of ‘better places’ – the wording in the theme seems to focus very much on the building aspect which is only part of what make a ‘place’ and a community.