'BMWgate': The BHS shames County Council with public protest
Riders in Oxford today took their fight with car giant BMW
and Oxfordshire County Council to County Hall – expressing
their anger to councillors over a closed bridleway and a controversial
court costs decision.
A "picket on horseback" of Oxfordshire County Council's
headquarters by local members of The British Horse Society
and Oxford Area Bridleways Association (OABA) was joined by
cyclists, members of the public – and the BHS's Chief
Executive Graham Cory and two of its Directors, Mark Weston
and Oliver Wilson.
The British Horse Society (the BHS) lost a recent court battle
to car giant BMW and Oxfordshire County Council over the route
and had £30,000 of the council's legal costs awarded
against it.
The demonstration attracted strong support from Liberal Democrat
and Green Party members of County Council who slammed their
council's behaviour.
Councillor Bob Johnston, a Lib Dem transport spokesman, told
demonstrators: "You have been dumped on. . . it is monstrous
and unfair! In future other groups and individuals will be
deterred from fighting for rights of way because of this."
Cllr. Larry Sanders, Green Party leader on the Council, said
that the council's pursuit of the BHS and the Ramblers Association
for costs in the case was "a shock" and looked like
a "vindictive act" particularly since "it appears
BMW would have been willing to pay these costs".
Campaigners Nuala Young and Penny Bassett rode to County Hall
on Melody and Copper and were filmed on the horses outside
the main entrance by BBC South TV News and photographed by
the Oxford Mail.
Penny said: "I am protesting because a lovely ride over
beautiful countryside has been taken away, and BMW has not
made an alternative bridleway available."
Nuala said the now-closed bridleway had been "marvellous".
"There are not many places left to ride in Oxford,"
she added.
The BHS's Chief Executive Graham Cory said: "It is outrageous
that the BHS is having to pay to do the Council's work in
defending rights of way."
Inside the council chamber, Troth Wells, who has spearheaded
the campaign and was a key BHS witness in the case, questioned
Oxfordshire County Council's behaviour and was loudly applauded
by Liberal Democrat and Green councillors. She also asked
the county council to pay the cost of converting the alternative
route provided by BMW to walkers and cyclists into a bridleway.
Afterwards, she said: "Today has been a great success.
We got our message across – and the fight goes on."
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