Coastal Access  BHS Access Cornwall Home Page

YOUR HELP WANTED NOW!

The Government is in the final decision making process on the Marine Bill which will published in December, but the bit that seriously concerns us is the proposal to create a national coastal access WALKING only trail around England. MPs are shortly to vote and have so far ignored requests to include provision for equestrian access. The BHS along with cyclists and the Open Spaces Society are continuing to lobby hard to get horse riders included in providing better access to the coast, enshrined in law.

So far the government is fobbing us off saying we can negotiate for access with landowners. We know that this will not yield any tangible permanent access for us. If it was that easy, why is legislation to provide access for walkers required?!! It is blatant discrimation against horse riders.

Todate, the CRoW Act ('Right to Roam' open access) has not provided anything for equestrians. The government's failed Discovering Lost Ways project has not added a single bridleway to the definitive map, yet there is still a cut off date of 2026 to prevent us claiming these historical routes thereafter. We, along with the Ramblers are trying to get that date repealled. (50% of the tracks and paths you ride are not bridleways legally protected on the definitive map and can be lost to you at any time.)


Download a colour pdf of the Coastal Access postcard or Download a black and white pdf of the Coastal Access postcard

and post it to your MP. Find out who your MP is here

PLEASE download and send off the BHS "Coastal Access for Equestrians" postcard to your local MP. There are five in Cornwall, Julia Goldsworthy, Colin Breed, Dan Rogerson, Matthew Taylor, and Andrew George. One of them is yours. Please don't delay - send today. We want the new access rights to the English coast to include equestrians. I know that it may not be practical everywhere, but we must not be totally excluded from this legislation.

Thank you for taking the time to read this - now its time for your action. Please do it today.
Remember the government's current assertion that access for higher rights users can be provided “by agreement” is not one that is borne out by current practice. Not one area of land has been opened by a landowner for equestrians under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Even the Forestry Commission, a government department, has refused to do so.