Ten questions for Equestrianism to ask ahead of 2008 elections

The British Horse Society is encouraging equestrians to find out what their local council candidate will do for equestrianism before voting.

On 1 May 2008, there will be local government elections in England and Wales and a Greater London Authority election.

The Society has produced a document containing key questions for equestrians to ask an electoral candidate, and statistics to support them.

The questions cover a variety of topics including road safety for equestrians; road surfacing and SMA; Ragwort control; the Animal Welfare Act; creation and maintenance of a full rights of way network for equestrians and the London Low Emission Zone.

BHS Director of Access Safety and Welfare, Mark Weston, said: “The equestrian industry is a vital contributor to both the national and local economies. Local councils often only consider equestrians as an afterthought when making and implementing policy decisions.”

Mr Weston added: “It is imperative that equestrians take the initiative in asking these questions of their electoral candidates. In this way, the future leaders of our communities may be fully informed of the issues facing equestrians, and what must be done to resolve them.”

The document is available from the BHS website:

www.bhs.org.uk/DocFrame/DocView.asp?id=2240

For further information and a list of the questions in full, please contact: Mark Weston, Director of Access, Safety and Welfare, 01926 707760, mark.weston@bhs.org.uk.