Plans for bridleway alongside railway with trains travelling as much as 110mph

Riders have raised security considerations over a proposed bridleway alongside a railway line that carries trains travelling as much as 110mph.

Community Rail proposes to assemble a brand new bridleway beginning outdoors Tackley Station, Oxfordshire, that can run adjoining to the railway to the south, earlier than rejoining an present bridleway. The plans observe the closure of a stage crossing on the station in April 2020.

Rider Jin Langstone, who has shaped an motion group with different riders and horse homeowners within the space to oppose the plans, advised H&H she believes the bridleway is a “potential main hazard”.

“A number of the native riders really feel the bridleway could possibly be vastly harmful, due to its size and the chance of us assembly a prepare. The trains are at floor stage, as much as two to 3 metres in peak for freight trains, and I don’t suppose all horses will be capable to deal with that,” she stated.

“I don’t suppose we will mitigate using alongside 1000m subsequent to a railway the place there could be trains going previous at excessive speeds.”

Jin added that the bridleway goes for use by a lot of different customers, and she or he has considerations that if a horse was spooked by a prepare and the rider fell off, a horse might develop into free.

“We’re nonetheless in discussions with Community Rail and we’re asking if they’ll discover another, however that’s not occurred but. We imagine there are a selection of other choices and several other different footpaths that could possibly be linked in. We’re completely nice that we could must trip alongside a part of the monitor, however simply not that size – it’s not protected,” she stated.

The British Horse Society has been working with the group, and BHS head of entry Will Metal advised H&H the society “recognises the significance of protected off-road using for all equestrians and is dedicated to enhancing and sustaining the UK’s entry community”.

“As a part of this pledge, our entry and rights of manner workforce help riders on an area stage to make sure bridleways and byways stay protected, safe and satisfactory,” he stated.

“On this case, we’re working intently with Community Rail, Oxfordshire County Council and equestrians within the space to make sure the absolute best answer for everybody concerned.”

A Community Rail spokesman advised H&H security is the corporate’s “primary precedence”.

“Our proposal at Tackley stage crossing will guarantee everybody, whether or not strolling, using, biking or utilizing a wheelchair close to the railway, is stored protected. After contemplating a variety of choices, we decided probably the most appropriate is to create a brand new four-and-a-half-metre huge bridleway, which might be set a minimal of seven metres away from the tracks, separate from the railway,” he stated.

“We now have carried out a public session and met with native residents, together with the using neighborhood, to debate our plans. The session has now closed and we are going to report the findings as quickly as attainable.”

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