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.
It is hugely disturbing to note that unlike other Village Design Guides, the Sawston VDG draft makes absolutely no reference to public rights of way (RoW). Given the vast amount of recent publicity about the importance of active travel on the physical and mental wellbeing of the population, it is astonishing that Sawston has ignored the need to protect the existing network and the opportunities to enhance it. Unlike other Village Design Guides, there is no 'wish list' of multi user access routes which could be provided by future development project funding.

Reference is made to the long views over fields, the rivers and the countryside but no proposals as to how access to such areas could be achieved. No mention is made of the potential for access to the GCP SE Transport proposals which include multi user access alongside any bus route. We believe this is a missed opportunity to provide for future generations.

The only reference to access routes appears to be:
Guidance
8.1 The water meadows to the west of the village are key to Sawston's character and should be preserved.
8.6 Existing cycle and footways should be retained and routes enhanced through development both through the vllage and at the village edge.
The Cambridgeshire Rights of Way Improvement Plan states that the bridleway network is fragmented and in need of improvement. Development and the creation of shared pedestrian / cycle paths further fragments that network. We therefore object to the creation of shared pedestrian cycle paths and call for the creation of NMU paths (non motorised user paths available to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians). In particular, we strongly object to the creation of shared cycle and pedestrian routes on verges previously available to equestrians resulting in horses and their riders being forced into the path of traffic passing them on their right side with the added danger of cyclists and possibly cargo bikes passing on their left hand side at the same time.
We would like to see all the existing shared pedestrian and cycle paths made available to equestrians, confirmed by use of the three‐user roundel (as per photo).
Sawston is lucky enough to have a well established and heavily used riding school which provides opportunities for adults and children to learn to ride. Children can also benefit from the School's association with the Pony Club of Great Britain. Currently, there are no safe, off road paths for hacking opportunities nor any call for such paths to be provided. However, if FP 196/14 or FP 196/12 were upgraded to bridleways and connected via the already well used path to Babraham Road or via the proposed development on Babraham Road, a route using RoW and quiet roads could create a link to the Restricted Byway 12/10. Note that on this draft VDG that
Restricted Byway 12/10 is incorrectly labelled as a 'Permissive Footpath', severely devaluing what is in fact currently the only fully NMU‐accessible public right of way leading out from this village. We would support a safe multi user crossing of the A1301 to Spicers - this could be in the form of a reduced Pegasus Crossing. With the potential improved leisure access at the Spicers site, a safe off road path for all NMUs from Stapleford to Sawston would be welcome.

A safe multi user link to the new Oasis recreation area (where horses are welcome) would be another opportunity. We would also support a safe NMU route from Stapleford to Sawston to link the Oasis area with the Spicers facilities. A multi‐user riverside path would be a great facility for all users.
Footpath 196/1 leads to Footpath 199/2 and on to Bridleway 199/3 Little Shelford. It would be of immense benefit to cyclists and horse riders if this path were upgraded to Bridleway to enable access to the wider Bridleway network. It would also enable riders and cyclists from Little Shelford to safely access the Oasis. Although this route crosses the railway line, it is an at grade crossing.

The proposed rural hub should include the opportunity for safe off road leisure access as well. Although this is proposed as a facility for commuters, commuting traffic is tidal, time of day restricted, often limited to a few hours per day and is not used at the weekends or summers evenings. Restricting use by other user groups represents poor value from public funds, and thus every opportunity should be taken to make new routes available to all off‐peak leisure users.
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 equestrians.