BMW's refusal to replace an ancient bridleway has resulted in a double blow for horse riders: a lost bridleway and a bill of £30,000 for their charity, The British Horse Society.

 

Judge Brian Loosley yesterday (Monday, 15 October) allowed BMW to stop up a bridleway and short section of unclassified highway that stands in the way of a proposed redevelopment of their Cowley plant in Oxford.  He ordered the BHS, the horse charity which had strenuously fought the closure, to pay costs of £30,000.

 

The Roman way had provided access to Shotover Country Park and Brasenose Woods for people who live in the south-east of Oxford, and also provided an off-road link between another bridleway to the south and a restricted byway to the north.

 

While BMW will provide an alternative route for pedestrians and cyclists, no route will be provided for horse riders to replace the historic route which is being closed.
 
BMW had undertaken to pay all of the County Council's costs arising out of the application but is apparently happy to see costs being awarded against two charities, The British Horse Society and the Ramblers Association.

 

The British Horse Society regards BMW's action as an attack on horse riders.

 

The BHS's Chief Executive Graham Cory said: "It is surprising that a company of the size and reputation of BMW is prepared, not just to dismiss the interests of riders by extinguishing a bridleway which was commercially inconvenient to the company's shareholders, but also to see the BHS, which had sought to protect the interests of horse riders, being heavily penalised for so doing."

 

Mark Weston, the Society's Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, said: "If The British Horse Society does not stand up and fight for equestrian rights of way, who will?  We will be using the decision in this case to highlight the costs involved in fighting to preserve access opportunities for the future generations of riders and to launch a fund to enable the Society to fight future cases."

 

Click here for the letter from Graham Cory, BHS Chief Executive to BMW

 

Access Fighting Fund (Oct 07)   The BHS have set up an Access Fighting Fund to raise money to help us continue the fight to protect our equestrian rights of way.  If you are able to make a donation to this fund it will help enormously and will be much appreciated.  Please could you also let your friends and family know about the fund and encourage them to donate too. Click here for the full BHS report The address is: www.justgiving.com/AccessFightingFund Graham Cory BHS Chief Executive, Mark Weston BHS Director of Access, Safety & Welfare with BHS members outside Oxfordshire County Council

 

 

British Horse Society veteran campaigner Brenda Wickham was presented with her MBE by HRH The Prince of Wales at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.

 

 Brenda is a long-serving member of The British Horse Society, and received the honour for her services to public rights of way in The Queen's Birthday Honours List. She has worked tirelessly over many years to improve access for all horse riders.

 

She was the Society's Southern Region Access and Bridleways Officer for more than 20 years, and despite resigning from this role last year, still contributes a great deal to the Society's Access and Rights of Way work.

 

Brenda is a driving force behind the National Bridleroute Network and has been instrumental in devising many long distance routes throughout the UK, including the Sea Horse Ride, the Sabrina Way, Three Downs Link, Three Rivers Ride, Radnor Forest Ride and the Prince Llywelyn Ride.

 

Mark Weston, BHS Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, said: "I cannot think of a more worthy recipient than Brenda. The work that Brenda has carried out to date - and continues to do - benefits not only today's riders but also riders for generations to come."

 

Brenda Wickham said: "I am absolutely thrilled to receive this honour. Working to improve rights of way has been my interest and passion for many years, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the BHS Access Department throughout my time as a volunteer."