Further supplementary memorandum submitted by the National Forest Company

(TNF 04B)

· The National Forest Company is committed to increasing the provision of access for all users. It seeks to work with riders from across the Forest to ensure that the needs of local riders are recognised.

· Horse access has been established on 46 privately-owned sites via the Tender Scheme.

· Permits are often used on sites due to the increased wear that can occur from riding (e.g. churning up of paths) and subsequent maintenance costs. The concept of a standardised 'Forest-wide' permit has been raised, but delivering and administering such a scheme would be complex and costly. The mechanism by which it could be delivered is still being investigated.

· Ms Allen raises concerns about access being removed from sites when Tender Scheme contracts expire. Of the 61 sites where contracts have ended (Rounds 1 to 4 of the scheme), just one 5ha site has seen a total closure of public access. Due to changes in contract durations, the next site contracts to end will not be until 2024.

· Where the NFC has direct control over the development of sites/schemes, it seeks (where feasible/appropriate) to provide multi-user access routes (including for horses). Examples include the new Conkers Circuit (8km), Hicks Lodge (1.5km), Poppy Wood (2km) and Hartshorne (1km linking two existing riding areas).

· The NFC continues to promote the provision of multi-user access through the new Changing Landscape Scheme. Under the scoring criteria for the CLS, three criteria are given special weighting (i.e. are scored double), one of which is 'Public & Other Access'. Achieving the highest score for access requires a scheme to provide "90% permissive access, including facilities for other users e.g. horse riders, cyclists and people with impaired mobility".

· While it encourages landowners to provide horse access, the NFC cannot (and should not) "force" the provision of horse access onto landowners. This would be counterproductive across the whole range of the NFC's work, as the ethos is for forest creation through voluntary agreement.

· There is a perception among many landowners that allowing horse access brings with it increased costs, risks and hassle. For example, on one site in the Forest, the irresponsible actions of a rider nearly led to the injury of a child. Concerns over future risks led to the removal of all horse access on the site, despite the intervention of NFC staff.

· In 1995, bridleways accounted for 6% of rights of way in the Forest, compared to a national average of 13%. The NFC continues to recognise that more bridleways are needed, as do the three county council Rights of Way teams that cover the Forest. Unfortunately, budgetary constraints within local authorities make the delivery of an integrated network of bridleways an extremely unlikely proposition.

· As a result, the NFC has convened a working group of local riders to identify priorities for new local riding links and to then work in partnership with (rather than at odds with) the county councils to seek to achieve them. By prioritising the most important and/or viable opportunities, the NFC and county councils can work more efficiently.

· It should also be noted that riding is not the only equestrian activity in The National Forest. There is a strong carriage driving presence within the Forest. Catton Hall is a major carriage driving venue, hosting international competitions; while the NFC supports the annual Midlands Driving Trials at Grangewood. This sport is growing within the Forest and was featured on a recent edition of the BBC's Country Tracks.

· In an ideal world, the NFC would like to see a multi-user link (not just for horses) between every settlement. This would create network of paths that would offer a sustainable alternative to car travel and add greatly to the goals of healthy living, open access and tourism generation. We recognise that this is an ambitious goal, but one worth aspiring towards. Access provision, like the creation of the Forest as a whole, is still a 'work in progress'. Every small addition has the potential to add to a better connected and more extensive network in the future.

January 2010