BMW factory development results in £30,000 bill for
horse charity
BMW's refusal to replace an ancient bridleway has resulted
in a double blow for horse riders: a lost bridleway and a
bill of £30,000 for their charity, The British Horse
Society.
Judge Brian Loosley yesterday (Monday, 15 October) allowed
BMW to stop up a bridleway and short section of unclassified
highway that stands in the way of a proposed redevelopment
of their Cowley plant in Oxford. He ordered the BHS, the horse
charity which had strenuously fought the closure, to pay costs
of £30,000.
The Roman way had provided access to Shotover Country Park
and Brasenose Woods for people who live in the south-east
of Oxford, and also provided an off-road link between another
bridleway to the south and a restricted byway to the north.
While BMW will provide an alternative route for pedestrians
and cyclists, no route will be provided for horse riders to
replace the historic route which is being closed.
BMW had undertaken to pay all of the County Council's costs
arising out of the application but is apparently happy to
see costs being awarded against two charities, The British
Horse Society and the Ramblers Association.
The British Horse Society regards BMW's action as an attack
on horse riders.
The BHS's Chief Executive Graham Cory said: "It is surprising
that a company of the size and reputation of BMW is prepared,
not just to dismiss the interests of riders by extinguishing
a bridleway which was commercially inconvenient to the company's
shareholders, but also to see the BHS, which had sought to
protect the interests of horse riders, being heavily penalised
for so doing."
Mark Weston, the Society's Director of Access, Safety and
Welfare, said: "If The British Horse Society does not
stand up and fight for equestrian rights of way, who will?
We will be using the decision in this case to highlight the
costs involved in fighting to preserve access opportunities
for the future generations of riders and to launch a fund
to enable the Society to fight future cases."
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