Worksop: Horse riding group launch campaign to save bridle paths

Members of the North Notts Bridleway Group say some paths have become ‘obstructed’ and that there are significantly fewer safe routes.

The riders are now trying to raise public awareness to help keep riders safe and horses off the road.

Chairman of the group, Evangeline Bell, said: “We feel that it is a matter of public concern that bridleways are maintained.

“We ride around the bridleways in the area and we have found that in the last two or three years that a lot of them do not join up.

“It is becoming a broader issue of public concern because there are more cars than ever before and more riders than ever before.”

The group, which consists of around 12 members, of all ages, ride around the Worksop, Carlton and Dinnington areas.

Before setting out, they always check the Ordnance Survey maps, but have found that some of the routes have now become blocked.

“I have been riding for about 10 years and there used to be a lot more routes that we could take,” Evangeline said.

“We always try to work out the best route, this is almost impossible. Some people simply don’t know how to ride around horses.

“Just recently a white van driver was revving his engine and I ended up in a ditch.”

Group members said they would be interested in hearing from anyone in the Worksop, Carlton and Woodsetts area who might know of routes which are not currently recognised on public signs at the moment.

According to an internet directory of national routes suitable for horse riders in Bassetlaw, Clumber Park and the Robin Hood Way offer long stretches of tracks and public bridleways.

The website also urges riders to purchase Ordnance Survey Explorer maps 270, 271 and 279 for the district.

A spokesman for Notts County Council said: “Our countryside access team are happy for the North Notts Bridleway Group to get in touch with them and the team will look into the questions that they raise.”

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