FARAG NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2011 newsletter

MEETING

Way back in March 2010 we mentioned that there was a proposal to set up a community based development trust to maintain the tracks in the south Falkirk area where there has been a huge investment resulting in a very good network of paths. This idea has since been expanded to include the development of new tracks, maintenance of the cycle tracks and “to carry on activities which benefit the community”. This “Community Interest Company” could also bid for funds for future projects.

A public open meeting is being held on 29 th September in Hallglen Primary School at 7.00 p.m. to explain how this company will operate and then to set it up. Horse riders have an interest in keeping this network in good order and it would be appreciated if as many as possible could turn up. As you know, horses can cause a lot of damage, especially in wet weather, so having a long term maintenance plan should be something we support, especially when riders are not even being asked to contribute financially!!

DRUMBROIDER PATH PROJECT

We have been working with Central Scotland Forest Trust on creating a track round the outskirts of the farm leading into Gateside Wood. The route has been surveyed and various costings considered (they seem to increase every time we go over the project) and are not yet finalised. As you may have seen in last week's Falkirk Herald the project is now on CSFT's list but we still have to raise the money to carry out the works.. We are not sure how long this will take but at least some progress is being made.

FALKIRK ACCESS FORUM

As you may (or may not) know, Sheila Hall represents horse riding interests on the local access Forum which meets four times a year. In the spring we had a review meeting to assess where we were going as the Core Paths Plan had been completed and the Forum seemed to have less relevance. However, it was decided that we needed a bit of revitalisation. There is also going to be a review of membership. Horse interests might also benefit from a change of representation, so if anyone would like to be the horse representative, Sheila would be happy to step down. If anyone is interested please get in touch with Sheila and a handover will be arranged.

Among the actions agreed was that we needed to promote access more and emphasise our successes. One of the suggestions was that we should have an Access Festival next Spring.

If FARAG is to take part and organise some rides, we have to be insured and one of the conditions of the BHS insurance is that we are accompanied on rides by a First Aider. If any member is qualified (or would like to be qualified) can they please get in touch with Sheila.

RIGHTS OF WAY

The British Horse Society arranged a visit to the offices of the Rights of Way Society in Edinburgh on Saturday. There are over 7000 rights of way in the National Catalogue of Rights of Way kept by the Society, which is a charity. The Society has only one full time employee and two or three part time people plus volunteers to cover the whole of Scotland . If anyone has tried to get maps of rights of way and failed to get a response it is because they are overwhelmed by enquiries and often cannot deal with requests from private individuals. How can you protect rights of way if you do not know where they are! They have maps on their internal computer system but they cannot be transferred to the Society's web site because of technical problems. The map of the Braes area of Falkirk is unbelievable because of the number of rights of way shown. However, as these rights of way are generally unmarked (any signs were probably destroyed years ago) no one knows about them.

Unfortunately, horses are no better off with some rights of way than they are with some core paths. If there are barriers (kissing gates, stiles fences, etc) only walkers have rights to get through. It is important to keep these rights of way open as this discrimination against non-pedestrian access takers may be disputed in the future. It is the responsibility of the Council (the Access Department) to protect rights of way, but in the majority of cases this applies only to walkers. The Council have maps showing the rights of way so if anyone wants to check up on a track that they think might be a right of way they should ask the Council to confirm it.

MEMBERSHIP

Can everyone who has not rejoined please do so. We need to keep our membership up. If we do not look as if we represent a lot of riders we will not get the funds to carry out any works. Please encourage your friends to join. Cheques for £5.00 payable to FARAG should be sent to Sheila Hall, Balcastle House, Slamannan, Falkirk FK1 3BB.

Greenrigg strip access trail

The car park is now open for use by trailers and horse boxes.  The best area for parking a trailer is the first parking spot on the left hand side.     You can then drive round a loop so there is no difficult reversing.      The multi use trail runs along the back of the car park.

Watch out for cyclists as there are special areas for them. Also, a reminder  of the BHS dung guidance.    Do not clean out your horsebox or trailer in the car park.    Kick any dung from the path into the side. 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Twelfth Annual General Meeting of F.A.R.A.G. will be held in the Community Centre, Slamannan on Wednesday 25th May 2011 at 7.30 p.m.

All nominations for the office bearers positions of:

FARAG Chairman

FARAG Secretary/Treasurer

Should be sent to:

Mrs. Sheila Hall , Balcastle House , Slamannan , Nr. Falkirk FK1 3BB

No later than 10 days before the A.G.M.

A G E N D A

1. Minutes of Previous AGM

2. Chairman's Report

3. Secretary/Treasurer's Report

4. Election of

Chairman

Secretary/Treasurer

5. Any other competent business

AFTER THE AGM THERE WILL BE A GENERAL DISCUSSION ON ANY OTHER ISSUES MEMBERS WISH TO RAISE

Also below is a copy of the report “Developing Horse-Riding Opportunities in Falkirk and West Lothian”. Some of you may remember completing a survey last year in connection with this. This study was undertaken by Falkirk Council, West Lothian Council, Central Forest Trust and the BHS. The results of the survey were submitted to consultants and followed up by a meeting to discuss the results and now we have the summary report. FARAG participated in the meetings and you will not be surprised that the top priority was access.

As you know, things have been very quiet this year as all our earlier projects have been completed and we are left with areas where we can make no progress, either because of the state and use of the land or because the landowner has blocked horse access. Some of these barriers are appearing because the landowner does not want motorbikes and quad bikes using the area and this often means that horses are excluded as well.

As a result of the recent meeting we are investigating two possible opportunities for improving access for horses. We hope to have more information for members at the Annual General Meeting.

Please try to come along. We still need support to keep going. Access is never going to be an easy issue but we need our members so that if opportunities do arise we are able to take advantage.

DEVELOPING HORSE-RIDING OPPORTUNITIES IN FALKIRK AND WEST LOTHIAN

"MAKING THINGS HAPPEN" WORKSHOP, TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2011

SUMMARY REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

This workshop, held at Oatridge College, was attended by a range of equestrian businesses, landowners, riders' representatives and public agencies. The aim was to take forward some of the recommendations made within the 2010 study "the Development of Horse-Riding Opportunities in Falkirk and West Lothian (Nov 2010).

1. Setting the Scene

A summary of the main conclusions and recommendations of the study report had been circulated prior to the event, and was discussed briefly. Attendees agreed that the target for the workshop should be to agree upon several actions for immediate progress.

2. Priority Setting

Attendees considered the 17 main action points from the study report, and cast two votes each to indicate their top priorities. There was a considerable degree of consensus. By far the top-rated action (voted for by 12 of the 15 attendees) was:

  • "Ensure that potential off-road routes and links are properly surveyed and prioritised for investment".

The following actions received four votes each:

  • "Set up a 'Falkirk and West Lothian Equestrian Alliance" or similar body
  • "Develop communications channels e.g. an online forum"

The following action received three votes:

  • "Link with other tourism promotional activities"

The remaining seven votes were spread widely amongst different actions.

3. Cluster Areas

The study report had identified two geographical areas which offered particular potential for early progress, given that they each had clusters of progressive landowners and existing equine businesses: (a) South and West Falkirk (based around Callendar Estate); and (b) the Beecraigs-Oatridge-Hopetoun corridor in West Lothian.

Attendees split into two groups to consider how on-the-ground horse access improvements could best be made in each of the areas.

(a) South and West Falkirk - the principal conclusion from this group was that, rather than try to pursue a 'grand vision', progress could best be made by working on a micro scale: for example, asking each equestrian yard and its riders to adopt/raise funds for a small improvement project that they could physically see happening and benefit from personally. This might be along the lines of 'adopt a path' or 'sponsor a gate'. It was noted that FARAG with Callendar Estate and Falkirk Council had already achieved a lot, and therefore further improvements would probably prove to be more challenging, as would trying to gain the support and participation of some equestrian businesses, who seemed unwilling to recognise that they might have some degree of responsibility for the land their customers used for riding out on. FARAG, as a constituted body, was seen as being the best vehicle to try to make further progress, but it was recognised that more riders and businesses would need to join the organisation to revitalise it.

(b) Beecraigs-Oatridge-Hopetoun - this group was optimistic about the likelihood of progress. The following key points came out of the discussion.

Existing provision

· Confirmation that there is poor off-road riding provision in the area. The two main areas to ride here are Beecraigs and along the NCN route Around the Forth at Blackness.

· Beecraigs also has good parking, a cafe etc but there are very poor east /west links in (particular difficulty identified getting in from the west).

· Good East - West links using the Union Canal towpath, although this is not particularly great for horse riders.

· There has also been recent good work done by Ecclesmachan & Threemiletown Community Council, to improve the path network (mainly for walkers) in the area.

Concerns

· Concern was raised that the wider opportunities in West Lothian weren't being considered / looked at, but generally there was agreement that the cluster should be seen as a “pilot” with the potential for developing around Beecraigs / SNEC / Oatridge at its heart and with willing landowners was too good an opportunity to ignore.

· Some concern about fly tipping and dumping if car parking provision is given. Education is seen as being key to addressing these issues.

· Ongoing issues around maintenance of any new routes. Is there scope for community or student involvement in this?

Network development

· There is scope for developing route provision (especially to develop better North–South Routes and better East-West Links) given existing facilities and willing landowners, as well as general interest from riders and agencies.

· Network development for horse riders can't however be done in isolation, as routes should provide for all users and they form part of a wider group of users.

· Given concerns above, care must be taken over the nature and type of provision for horses and where it takes place.

· There may be opportunities for car parking provision at Oatridge. BHS is keen to explore Park & Ride provision in the area and can help to help to deliver two new schemes.

· In Hopetoun Estate in particular, there are a number of existing routes that could form part of a future cluster network, but more information is needed on nature and frequency of use.

· Audit / survey of routes needs to be done first. This would include a review of exiting provision and its condition, the potential opportunities, willing landowners, quiet roads, missing link etc.

· There are a few ways in which this could be done; by a consultant, partner staff or by students / staff at Oatridge as a research project.

· A reformed West Lothian Riders Action Group may be a mechanism for attracting funding to deliver survey work and any future capital work.

Key Actions:

· Scope out the nature and extent of the audit needed, identifying who will deliver / how / an approximate cost.

· Identify a small group to oversee this piece of work and agree who will make the funding applications.

· Identify possible funders (LEADER / CSGN development fund).

4. Collaboration and Communication

The workshop then convened in plenary to consider how best to improve collaboration and communication between equine interests across the area.

After discussion, the following actions were agreed:

(a) Establish and promote a new Facebook Group for all interested parties - riders, landowners and businesses. This would allow everybody to share news, raise issues, ask questions and generally act as a focal point for all things equestrian in Falkirk and West Lothian. Mark Baird (Central Saddlery) agreed to establish and administer the group, but he would need perhaps two additional administrators.

(b) In both cluster areas, discussions would continue about extending/improving off-road riding routes. In Falkirk, the way to do this would be to ask riders (not yards) what they would like to see happen and how they might help to pay for/maintain any improvements, then consult with landowners to see what might be possible. FARAG to take the lead in Falkirk. In West Lothian, a cluster wide approach will be taken and as detailed at 3(b) above, an audit / survey of existing routes and route development options should be the next step. A small working group would be set up to oversee this piece of work.

5. Other Points

Workshop participants also agreed on the following points:

(a) Equestrian sports should not be put in a 'silo' away from other recreational activities. Particularly in West Lothian, there was scope to promote horse riding as just one of many types of experience which could be enjoyed by visitors to the countryside.

(b) On a related note, the profile of horse riding should be raised within wider tourism promotional activities for the area (e.g. the work being done by Visit West Lothian). The equestrian facilities available were ideal for both novice and experienced riders to enjoy, whilst other members of their party did other things such as sightseeing or shopping

(c) Although access legislation meant that paths could be used by any type of user, it also made sense for landowners to badge/signpost paths as "suitable for horses" or "not suitable for horses", thereby helping to avoid both path damage and user conflict.

(d) A cautious approach should be taken towards publicising off-road routes (especially on maps or online): it would be best not to promote any such paths unless there was absolute clarity of agreement between landowners and riders.

(e) Whilst it was good that the area had a good range of high-quality, professional equestrian businesses, a large part of the local horse scene was 'DIY', and the character and viability of many operators could be threatened if they had to become too commercial (e.g. publicising themselves, paying business rates, mandatory quality assurance).