Horses face ban from popular Gainford riverside route

HORSE owners in Gainford could be banned from a picturesque riding route after failing to comply with rules.
Gainford Riverside Millennium Green Charitable Trust has announced it will have to consider taking action after riders began abusing permission to use their land.
The trust is a registered charity which was set up back in 2000. The overall aim of the group is to maintain the land by the river, preserve it for future generations and encourage nature in the area.
Although the trust doesn’t own any bridleways, committee members agreed to give permissive access to horse riders as part of an attempt to make the area open for everyone. As a result, riders have been able to enjoy the riverside route along School Lane, into the river and across to Boat Lane.
During a report at Gainford and Langton Parish Council’s Annual Parish Meeting last week, chairman of the charitable trust, Tony Sillars, spoke about fresh concerns surrounding the use of the land which had given rise to “serious safety issues”.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Sillars said: “It is an unfortunate fact of modern life that some people cannot behave reasonably. On a regular basis we have to clear up people’s waste while others do not clear up their dog’s poo especially from paths.
“More disturbing, we have a few horse riders who seem unable to read. An agreement was reached with horse riders to go down School Lane and straight down to the river. There are no bridle paths on the trust’s land and they should not deviate, left or right, from the permissive path. There are signs to reinforce the message about where they should not ride. A few, however, have not only ignored those signs but have either damaged or removed them.”
Representatives from the British Horse Society have visited the area in the past and noted that horses should not be on the land.
Mr Sillars said: “The British Horse Society readily agreed when they came to look at the area horses, old people, children and dogs made a potentially toxic mix and as horses are known to be very skittish they should really be kept apart.”
Nevertheless, the committee gave riders restricted access to the land on a trial basis.
Mr Sillars added: “As some people cannot be trusted and in view of the safety issues, the committee will have to consider what action to take which will include banning all horse riders in the same way motorbikes, motor scooters and mountain bikers are excluded.”