This response is based solely on the VDG. There are numerous, well documented reasons why equestrian access should be included in protecting and improving access including impact on the rural economy, public money should benefit all users, health and wellbeing, local and national Planning Policies. Should the Parish Council require further details or information, the British Horse Society would be pleased to answer questions or make a presentation with a view to working with
the PC to improve countryside access.

The Papworth Everard VDG does not at any point mention provision for equestrians, which is unacceptable. It does not mention the inclusion of improving links from the village into the local landscape and public rights of way (PROW). It would be nice to maintain and enhance the 'green fingers' which connect the village interior to the landscape.

The Parish of Papworth Everard has very few Public Rights of Way (PROW). In fact there only seems to be five, and only one of these is a Bridleway (no. 180/5). The Bridleway, that does exist, runs alongside the A1198, and starts and finishes on a busy main road, with no connections to other PROW. As a result, the bridleway is unlikely to be as well used by horse riders as it could be. As part of any future planning in Papworth Everard and in the creation of a 'wish list', it would be essential
to put in a horse‐friendly crossing at both ends of the bridleway. Such crossing would also benefit cyclists and pedestrians. It appears that Papworth Everard is almost isolated in a lovely rural area, with very few off road links to other villages. We would like to see the creation of multi user links to other communities.
A solution would be to upgrade some of the local Footpaths for instance no. 180/3, which runs from Papworth Everard towards Elsworth. This would provide a very useful off‐road link for horse riders and cyclists and help to address the lack of off‐road routes from Papworth Everard. However this route does cross a road, and also a sluice via a bridge which may need upgrading to make it suitable for horse riders and cyclists.
Footpath no. 180/4 if upgraded to a Bridleway would link up with FP 180/3 and would provide a good circular route with very little roadwork. Both these routes could also link to Bridleway 180/3 and make this a more useful route.
The other suggestion is to upgrade the National Pathfinder Trail through the village, so that it is also suitable for horse riders and cyclists. If this were in conjunction with the upgrade of Footpath no. 180/1 and 180/4, a lovely multi user route through the village could be created, albeit some of the route would be on minor roads. The route would need safe crossings for all users, including horse riders and suitable traffic calming along the road route. This could also link up to the other end of
the Bridleway 180/5 providing another circular route; again suitable, safe road crossings for all users would be needed.
Finally the creation of a safe off‐road route for all Non Motorised Users (NMU) from the South end of Bridleway 180/5, next to the High Street towards Yelling, would provide a link to Yelling, and then on to Eltisley.

The upgrade of these footpaths to bridleways would enable better, safer, off‐road connections to neighbouring villages such as Elsworth and Yelling for horse riders and cyclists making the paths available to a wider range of users.
Any future development proposals should include this 'wish list'.

Cambridgeshire County Council has a Local Transport Policy (LTP), which sets out their transport objectives, policies and strategy for the county. A sister document of the LTP is the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). The County Council updated its ROWIP in 2016 in line with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. You may wish to consult this document when drafting policies dealing with Non‐Motorised Users (NMU) and the Public Rights of Way network.
https://cambridgeshire.gv.uk/residents/travel‐road‐and‐parking/transport‐plans‐and‐policies/localtransport‐plan
Particular interest should be given to Policies S0A1 'Making the Countryside More Accessible', S0A2 'A Safer Activity', S0A3 '57,000 New homes', S0A4 'Knowing what's out there', S0A5 'Filling in the Gaps', and S0A8 'A Better Countryside Environment' - all of which include the need for access for access for equestrians.