Main heading

Download the Equestrian Strategy in full

Introduction

1.1 As part of Cheshire County Council's Engineering Service Best Value Review Action Plan the need for a review of provision for horses and their riders has been identified. It is proposed to achieve this through the development of a County Equestrian Strategy. Such a Strategy will set out a series of principles for the development of a horse riding and carriage driving network within Cheshire and how to accommodate horses, carriages and their riders/drivers on the highway network.

1.2 Three of the main principles of a best value review are to challenge, compare and consult. These aspects will be key elements of the development of Cheshire's Equestrian Strategy.

The Strategy will complement the Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan that the County Council will develop as part of the requirement of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Linkages to the Local Transport Plan will also be identified in order to promote "equestrian friendly" schemes. 

1.3 In producing the Equestrian Strategy it must be borne in mind that the County Council will have to operate within its existing financial constraints. Therefore, if the Strategy is to be effective any proposals must be realistic and commensurate with any assessed safety risk. However, the ultimate aim of the Strategy will be to see the development of an extensive off-road network of bridle ways throughout Cheshire and the mitigation of conflict between horse riders and carriage drivers with other users where the use of the highway network is unavoidable. Such an aim would be achieved through a partnership approach.

1.4 In conjunction with Bridleway groups, work has already begun on the Strategy and a guidance note on the use of verges (Word 32.5kb) has been produced.

Principles to be adopted within the Horse Riding Strategy

2.1 In developing an Equestrian Strategy for the county a number of overarching principles will be adopted as follows:

a) that horse riding and carriage driving should be promoted on a network of traffic-free or low traffic flow routes;

b) that in developing such routes they should be safety audited where they would join or cross the highway and a risk assessment should be undertaken of the remaining section before it is promoted as a route;

c) tolerance should be promoted between all road users and users of the Public Rights of Way network and there should be an emphasis on promoting personal responsibility towards safety by all road users;

d) practices and systems of the County Council will be reviewed to identify the impact on horse riders/carriage drivers.

For further information please contact Anna Geroni 01244 973617.