§ Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con)The horse riding community in Castle Point is up in arms. On Canvey Island alone, there are more than 200 horses, but only one bridleway. Areas of Canvey Island, including the fields of Waterside leisure centre, fields adjacent to Cornelius Vermuyden school and the sea wall near the golf course have been used by horse riders since 1968, but are now increasingly denied to them. That is intolerable. Horse riders are decent people, many of whom are young people doing what they should be doing—getting off the streets to pursue their hobbies—and the council should be supporting them, not hurting them. Therefore, 60 horse riders have compiled a petition in the following terms:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled
The Humble Petition of Miss Wendy Eydman, Councillor Dorothy Best and others of like disposition
Sheweth
That traditional amenities and recreation areas used by horse riders in Castle Point are increasingly being denied to them and that the safety of the riders and horses is put at risk, by barriers and fences often erected to stop motorcyclists or, indeed, the horse riders themselves.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House shall urge the Government to bring pressure on Castle Point Borough Council to take into account the needs of local horse riders and to promote rather than constrain accessibility to their 1239 traditional recreational riding areas and to ensure that, for safety, any new road from Roscommon Way to Haven Road on Canvey Island will include a bridleway.
§ And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.