Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2017 | Page 89

Equestrian
“The law clearly
states that all
highways must
be suitable for
ALL road users,
including horses,
motorcyclists and
cyclists”
meantime? We put this question
to Ian Ward. “We realise there is
an issue and we are sympathetic.
The last thing we would want
is for a rider to suffer injuries of
any kind. At the end of the day
we are a Council that is bound by
government legislation. We have
looked at the advice available on
the British Horse Society’s website
which recommends that if you’re
out riding and you encounter a
slippery road surface you should
dismount and lead your horse.
Also, you should never trot your
horse under these road conditions.
Until we sort this problem out we
simply ask riders to act responsibly
at all times. We really do want
to solve this problem as we do
realise that equestrianism is abig
part of Island Life and contributes
towards tourism on the Island.”
As far as we can see after talking
to various parties, it’s clear that
these roads will not be ripped up
and replaced anytime soon, and
neither will the smaller ones (they)
wear in quickly.
That isn’t the fault of Island
Roads or Isle of Wight council,
and the blame has to be laid
squarely at the doors of central
government, which is the only
authority that can change the
specification of the road surface.
Sadly, any prospect of that seems
too late for the Isle of Wight, as the
PFI contract has to roll on and be
completed on time.
However, in order to make a
change we need to be banging on
the door of our only Parliamentary
representative Mr Bob Seely, and
using the power of the BHS - so
please direct all your complaints to
these two bodies.
• It has just been announced as
we were going to press that there
is a meeting to be held during
September 2017, between Bob
Seely MP, Paul Herbert (Service
Director, Island Roads), Ian Ward
(IW Council - Tranport), Rodney
Downer (Councillor, Godshill-
Wroxall), Alan Hiscox (Director of
Safety, British Horse Society).
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