(Story) Trying to establish riding access in my local park (Chelt)

Ashf

Ashf

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 September 2005
Messages
791
Location
Cheltenham, England
www.stencilbum.co.uk
I've been trying to get the right to ride in Cheltenhams Pittville Park restored for ages, Wedding parties have been turning up in horse drawn carriages for years so the the council is allowing Horses in there.
Also, you can ride in any park in London, and the this park is a lovely place to go with well surfaced paths for all year round hacking.

Anyway a while ago, the parks residents association had a big article in the Gloucestershire Echo ' <a href="http://www.glosecho.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231771&amp;
command=displayContent&amp;sourceNode=231774&amp;contentPK=1
7711532&amp;folderPk=108867&amp;pNodeId=231778#continueNews" target="_blank">http://www.glosecho.co.uk/displayNode.js...78#continueNews</a> ', calling for it to be returned to the original vision of the creator.

After I read it, I wrote off to the Residents association to see if they were actually serious about the 'original vision' bit

Anyway, predictably, they came back with a wishy washy notion that we would be riding across the greens on the golf course, and I told him that I thought they were just looking out for their own interests as houseowners, and that the park should be for the benefit of all the towns residents, not just those who would benefit from the lottery money being spent on their doorstep.

The local paper picked up on this and published a story on it tonight

HERE

The paper is asking for comments on it, Feel free to add yours
wink.gif


Ta Ash
smile.gif
 

Whoops, Links don't work
frown.gif


Anyway, The story


[ QUOTE ]
'LET US SADDLE UP IN THE PARK'
1 reader has commented on this story. Click here to read their views.


09:00 - 02 July 2007

Riding enthusiast Ashley Filmer wants free rein to ride his horse in Pittville Park.Ashley, of Alstone Croft in Cheltenham, was inspired by efforts made by the Friends of Pittville to restore the park to its former glory and original vision.

He wants to open up the park to horse riders - who have been banned since the 1970s.

Friends of Pittville and Cheltenham Borough Council both think his equestrian vision is impractical.

Ashley said his friends support him. He said: "My own research found the park was originally built by Joseph Pitt as a place for walks and rides.

"We've found from our own experiences, and from many other horse riders in the town, that there's a shortage of places to ride in and around Cheltenham.

"When we take the horses out we get a great reaction from adults and children who don't usually get to see the animals close up.

"It's a great shame that this important part of the original vision of Pittville has been lost in the mists of time."

Ashley contacted Friends of Pittville and put forward his idea. But he says the group responded with little enthusiasm.

Ashley said: "I'm dismayed by the attitude of the Friends of Pittville.

"They seem to be a group more interested in getting public funds for the park than to stay true to the original purpose of the park's creator."

Tony Mason, chairman of Friends of Pittville, said: "It hasn't been considered formally by the committee so we don't have an official stance. But I expect it would be received with a certain amount of caution.

"When you consider the number of people in the park, it doesn't seem like a great idea.

"When you also consider the pitch and putt area, it's not the most desirable place to take horses.

"Add this to the large numbers of children in the park, and the objections we already have to dogs in the park, and I don't think it's what people are looking for."



[/ QUOTE ]
 
We managed to get riding returned to Hampstead Heath in London. It is done on an annualy renewable permit system which ensures that riders carry third party insurance and can be identified (number tags).

There is also riding in parks in London in Hyde Park, Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park.

Go for it......
 
As someone who rode over Wimbledon Common for years, I suggest you contact them for ideas - there is a golf course there and plenty of children, dog walkers, cyclists, kite flyers - in fact you name it, they are there! Everyone co-exists nicely - best of luck to you. If you do get it opened and have a grand opening ride, let me know, we shall come down from here to help!
 
What you need are some people in authority on your side.
Years ago we had difficulty getting anywhere opened for horses, and the local riders formed an Assoc and a comittee. The council asked for suggestions and the idiots suggested a perfectly fibre surfaced bridlepath costing thousands.
Of course the environmental health dept ran off into the sunset.
Some months later I calle din and had a meeting and asked them what they felt was possible. this was a former railway track, some bike obstacles to stop motor bikes and we all went off and viewed the site.
When they surveyed it I went too and said how feasible the barriers were, how wide to make steps etc and they built it.
From that small start they now have a proper network of good bridlepaths.
Don't be too greedy in what you suggest, turn it round so they tell you what they would agree to , and you may be pleasantly surprised.
See if any famous names who ride live nearby and can add their clout too.
best of luck, it can be done!
 
Thanks for the advice ITs food for thought. The Echo have asked for a straw pole, but their website is down
frown.gif
.

Access is already available - you can walk straight in.

The request is simply to be able to hack through its network of paths. The Residents association is scaremongering about the Golf course. No paths run through that part, but they regularly get cars being driven across it and then dumped in the lake by the local chavs @ 2am
 
Their site is working now, Here is the original story which prompted the request

[ QUOTE ]
WE WON'T GIVE UP ON OUR PARK


10:30 - 07 April 2007

Plans to restore Pittville Park to its Regency glory have been dealt a blow after a lottery bid was turned down.Cheltenham Borough Council wanted £50,000 to prepare a bid for £5 million.

But the Heritage Lottery Fund said it was unclear how the renovations would help get more people into the park.

The Friends of Pittville Park, set up to support the bid, want to restore the park to Edward Pitt's original vision.

Their plans include restoring the gates and ironwork in Clarence and Wellington squares, making the cafe in Central Cross Drive a focal point and creating extra seating, and widening the Evesham Road tunnel and adding lighting.

The rejection is a major setback and means the completion date of 2014 will now be delayed.

The council said the bid would be resubmitted in June, after receiving encouraging feedback.

Coun Chris Ryder (C, Charlton Kings), cabinet member for green environment, said: "This is disappointing news especially for our friends group, who put so much effort into this first bid.

"We intend to reapply in the next few months and hope that our second bid will be more successful so that we can continue with our aspirations for Pittville Park."

The friends said the news was disappointing.

But they say they are encouraged by the feedback and prepared to redouble their efforts for a new bid in June.

Air Vice Marshal Tony Mason is chairman of the group, which was launched especially to support the lottery application.

He said: "Bids to the heritage side of the lottery are facing stiff competition because of the cash being pumped into the Olympic Games.

"Bids which would have sailed through last year are struggling this year.

"The news will be circulated to our members this week and will be discussed at our committee meeting on Tuesday night.

"We're not going to be discouraged by this.

"If anything, the encouraging feedback will make us stronger and more prepared to bid come June.

"We remain absolutely committed to the goal we were set up to achieve."

Tuesday's meeting of the friends is at the council's Municipal Offices in the Promenade.


[/ QUOTE ]
 
I've already had one idiot approach me this morning declaring its a stupid idea.

He stated that dogs and horses don't mix after declaring that he took his dog onto Painswick Beacon, The dog attacked a passing horse which bolted and threw its rider - Whats wrong with keeping a dangerous dog under control in public areas, what would have happened if it were a small child his dog went for?
 
Do you think many people would use it though??
There's not many yards nearby within hacking distance and some of the roads near it are fairly busy. There's not really much space to park a box either.
TBH i don't think i'd want to ride round there, i'd be worried about kids running up and either acaring the horses or getting kicked or the chavs on mopeds.
Personally i think you're fighting a loosing battle as a while ago they were talking about banning dogs from the park.
 
I think it could become popular if it were opened up and a good way of avoiding the Racecourse roundabout and other main roads if you are hacking across from the hill to the Tewkesbury road/Uckington area.

If you don't ask, you don't get, and nothing will ever change.

Its a 10 minute hack from ours, and the same sort of time from Prestbury village.

As for the kids running up to the horses, we went through there a few years ago, and the kids were never a problem, they were all very enthusiastic, but kept a respectable distance if asked to.

There is a big car park behind the pump rooms as well as in the prince of wales stadium.

My intention would be able to use the parks network of paths as they are all tarmac'd when the bridleways are out of action in the wet seasons (like now).
 
I'm afraid this is a standard arguement!!!

Users should be able to have access to the park together - what gives dog walkers more right than any other user? And if the dog is dangerous it should be kept under control - whether there are horses around or not!

If there is a history of horses and the Council website clearly states that there is... then horses have a right to be there.

Do you know why horses were banned in the 70's??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top