Contact: Dick Lofthouse, ext 6913

1. Summary

1.1 This report concerns a request from the British Horse Society (BHS) for equestrian facilities along Cartwright Drive, Segensworth (see attached location plan). It proposes that consideration be given to general equestrian facilities in the area when the Fareham Borough Local Plan is next reviewed.

2. Introduction

2.1 Since the inception of the Fareham Western Wards Plan in the 1970s the proposals for the Eastern Distributor Road South (now named Cartwright Drive) have been shown and publicised as an integral part of the highway network.

3. Eastern Distributor Road South

3.1 Work on the distributor road commenced in October 1997. The earthworks were completed in early 1998. It was only then that the County Council received representations from the BHS requesting the provision of a route for horse riders along Cartwright Drive. It was made clear to the BHS that such a request would require further detailed design, entail land acquisition and an extension of contract thereby ensuring a claim for monetary compensation for the delay in completing the contract. The road was completed in October 1998.

4. Site Visit

4.1 Subsequent to its completion a further letter was received from the BHS (Mrs Clarke) raising the issue of road safety for its members when riding along Cartwright Drive. It was not possible to reach a satisfactory conclusion, therefore a site meeting was arranged for 5 November 2001. This comprised two members from the BHS together with highway representatives from both the County Council and Fareham Borough Council.

4.2 At the site meeting it emerged that the BHS could not produce detailed figures on equestrian usage of Cartwright Drive. It was therefore agreed by all parties present that the County Council would carry out an equestrian and vehicle (including HGVs) count. The census was undertaken on Sunday, 17 February 2002.

4.3 In addition to the census, the County Council's Rights of Way Section, in conjunction with Mrs Shoopman of the BHS, undertook to identify the principal centres of horse stables/fields in the Segensworth/Whiteley areas, together with potential horse riding routes. The issue of Cartwright Drive for equestrian usage was not raised.

5. Site Visit and Other Associated Issues

5.1 At the meeting the BHS representatives were advised that:

(i) prior to the construction of Cartwright Drive there had been no previous provision of an equestrian ride along the line of this road;

(ii) on the west side of Cartwright Drive there is a bituminous surfaced footway from its roundabout with the A27 to Segensworth Road. By law horse riders are prohibited from riding or leading a horse along a footway. On the east side there is a grass verge from Segensworth Road up to and just beyond Stephenson Road, but in this length there was a section of safety fencing to safeguard the outfall of a large diameter culvert sited underneath Cartwright Drive. Due to the proximity of this fencing horse riders would be forced to come out onto the carriageway to get past this obstacle; and

(iii) from the end of the grassed verge up to the A27 roundabout there is a bituminous footway. The majority of this length of footway abuts onto land in the ownership of the Holiday Inn Hotel. To provide a bridleway (minimum width three metres) would need the acquisition of land from the hotel.

5.2 The issue was also raised with BHS representatives of how their members would cross the A27 taking into account the number of vehicles using it, even on a Sunday. No definitive reply was given.

5.3 Mrs Clarke suggested that some of the landscape planting be removed to permit a three metre wide bridleway to be provided. She was advised that until the census was carried out no further consideration could be given as the number of equestrians using the length of Cartwright Drive had yet to be identified. It also had to be remembered that there was a need to screen the future industrial building zoned for the west side of Cartwright Drive from despoiling the view across the Meon Valley when viewed from Fareham.

5.4 Ideally bridleways should be sited away and fenced off from distributor roads to remove potential conflict between vehicular traffic and horse riders. In addition, the County Council could be accused of wasting tax payers' monies should the landscaping be removed.

6. Equestrian/Traffic Count

6.1 The census taken on 17 February 2002 between 0800 and 1715 resulted in 23 equestrians being counted. The results, together with the numbers of equestrians, vehicular traffic and pedestrians using Cartwright Drive, were sent to Mrs Clarke. In reply, she claimed that horse riders would use Cartwright Drive if it was safe to use. During the whole period of the count only two riders were recorded as riding along the whole length of Cartwright Drive from the A27 direct. This occurred between 1100 and 1200 noon. Only one heavy goods vehicle was recorded as travelling south, ie on the opposite side of the carriageway to the horse riders, during this same hour.

6.2 The greatest number of riders recorded was 19 between Segensworth Road and Whiteley Lane and vice versa. The highest number in any one hour was 10 between 1400 and 1500. There is a grass verge along both sides of Cartwright Drive, between Segensworth Road and Whiteley Lane, which can cater for this movement but the census records these rides as being along the carriageway.

7. Further Developments

7.1 Mrs Clarke of the BHS has since commented that road nameplate signs or speed limit signs sited in the highway verge made it awkward for horse riders to get past them. To meet her request two road nameplate signs in the vicinity of Whiteley Lane roundabout have been removed and set back against the highway boundary fence.

7.2 The County Council's Rights of Way Section and Mrs Shoopman of the BHS are continuing to investigate possible routes for horse riders in the Whiteley/Segensworth areas. Their principal concern at present is to identify and provide an equestrian route around the former Knowle Hospital site.

8. Estimated Construction Cost

8.1 The estimated cost of providing a continuous bridleway along the east side of Cartwright Drive between the A27 and Whiteley Lane roundabouts is £38,700. This figure does not allow for any land acquisition costs for purchasing land from the Holiday Inn Hotel.

9. Conclusion

9.1 Based on current findings the need for equestrian facilities on Cartwright Drive, Segensworth has not been proven. However consideration for general equestrian facilities should be considered as part of the next Fareham Borough Local Plan Review 2006-2011.

Recommendation

That the conclusion set out in paragraph 9.1 of the report be noted.

7198/RL