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(l to r) Mark Weston, Glynis Coxeter, Troth Wells and Graham Cory |
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Riders in Oxford took their fight with car giant BMW and Oxfordshire County Council to County Hall – expressing their anger to councillors over a closed bridleway and a controversial court costs decision.
A "picket on horseback" of Oxfordshire County Council's headquarters by local members of The British Horse Society and Oxford Area Bridleways Association (OABA) was joined by cyclists, members of the public – and the BHS's Chief Executive Graham Cory and two of its Directors, Mark Weston and Oliver Wilson.
The British Horse Society (the BHS) lost a recent court battle to car giant BMW and Oxfordshire County Council over the route and had £30,000 of the council's legal costs awarded against it.
The demonstration attracted strong support from Liberal Democrat and Green Party members of County Council who slammed their council's behaviour.
Councillor Bob Johnston, a Lib Dem transport spokesman, told demonstrators: "You have been dumped on. . . it is monstrous and unfair! In future other groups and individuals will be deterred from fighting for rights of way because of this."
Cllr. Larry Sanders, Green Party leader on the Council, said that the council's pursuit of the BHS and the Ramblers Association for costs in the case was "a shock" and looked like a "vindictive act" particularly since "it appears BMW would have been willing to pay these costs".
Campaigners Nuala Young and Penny Bassett rode to County Hall on Melody and Copper and were filmed on the horses outside the main entrance by BBC South TV News and photographed by the Oxford Mail.
Penny said: "I am protesting because a lovely ride over beautiful countryside has been taken away, and BMW has not made an alternative bridleway available."
Nuala said the now-closed bridleway had been "marvellous". "There are not many places left to ride in Oxford," she added.
The BHS's Chief Executive Graham Cory said: "It is outrageous that the BHS is having to pay to do the Council's work in defending rights of way."
Inside the council chamber, Troth Wells, who has spearheaded the campaign and was a key BHS witness in the case, questioned Oxfordshire County Council's behaviour and was loudly applauded by Liberal Democrat and Green councillors. She also asked the county council to pay the cost of converting the alternative route provided by BMW to walkers and cyclists into a bridleway.
Afterwards, she said: "Today has been a great success. We got our message across – and the fight goes on."
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Date Created: 07/11/2007
Last Updated: 07/11/2007
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