County supports Hannah's horse safety campaign
A campaign by ten-year-old Hannah Mudd to make roads in Funtington safer for horse riders, cyclists and walkers has been taken up by West Sussex County Council.
Hannah has come up with posters and a slogan 'We don't dent, we DIE' to raise awareness of the problems horses and their riders face on roads in the Funtington area, such as motorists going too fast and not waiting for horse riders to move to the side of the road.
She has had the posters laminated in A3 size and they are available free for anyone who wants to display them by a roadside near their home.
They can be collected from Oldwick Saddlery or Funtington Country Stores.
Hannah said: "I really love the countryside and if the county council can make it safer for people like me to be able to enjoy it, that is really fantastic.
"Some people said the council wouldn't do anything to help so it's really encouraging they are going to act.
"I want to say thank you to Louise Goldsmith and to the people at the council who are working to make it safer for me and others to enjoy the area."
Cllr Goldsmith, county cabinet member for the environment and economy, who represents Chichester West, met Hannah to find out more about the problem. She said: "I walked along the lanes in Funtington with Hannah to see the problem for myself.
"In 45 minutes, we recorded more than 200 cars on one lane alone.
"We also had a look at the footpaths and bridleways in the area to see if there is anything we can do to equip those better for horse riders.
"This problem affects other parts of the county as well and we will be working to try to find a solution so walkers, riders and cyclists are able to enjoy the countryside safely. In the meantime, I would ask all drivers to slow down on lanes."
As a result of the meeting, the county council's rights of way team is working with local landowners and horse riders to see if any safe off-road links to the bridleway network can be established.
Grass verges on the B2146 from the West Sussex border to East Ashling are being cut back as part of the annual programme by Highways and Transport.
Cabinet member for highways and transport Cllr Tex Pemberton said this final cut of the year was for all grass back to the highway boundary – around 12m square metres in total countywide, and would give horse riders more room on country roads.
"I would also ask farmers and landowners to ensure their hedges are cut back as well to help horse riders get the full benefit of the cut grass verges," he added.
"I was impressed with the warning poster Hannah produced and I have asked my officers to explore further how we might use her innovative suggestion across our rural county where equestrian and increasing traffic in our country lanes are becoming common issues."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Decision to change bus subsidies comes into effect in West Sussex
- LIVE RACING: Goodwood May Festival, Day 1
- LAURA CARTLEDGE Life’s Like That...Secret revealed – and it turned out to be a piece of cake for us all
- VOTE: Do potential developments pose a threat to the national park?
- Marking the Diamond Jubilee in Chichester
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Chichester
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
