HORSE riders who have been campaigning for safer conditions whilst using Barnsley’s roads have condemned local leaders for failing to address spiralling cases of near-misses with vehicles.
Julie Fields - who has owned horses for 30 years - embarked on an awareness campaign after official figures revealed more than 30 accidents have occurred on popular routes used by riders around Shafton, Felkirk, Royston and Grimethorpe in the last five years.
Despite receiving positive early feedback from Barnsley MPs Dan Jarvis and Stephanie Peacock, as well as neighbouring West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Police officers, Julie - who runs the Shafton and South Hiendley Horse Riding group - told the Chronicle that a lack of action has left fellow horse riders despondent.
“I am really disgusted in the lack of support I have received recently,” Julie told the Chronicle.
“I was told that Dan’s office wrote to Lillian Greenwood MP, Future Roads Minister, but there are no plans to change the fundamentally flawed Highway Code rules of 163 and 215 which relate to vehicles and horse riders.
“South Yorkshire Police are aware of numerous reports of horse riders asking for help - we’ve done surveys about our safety concerns and handed them in but they must have just been to put a plaster over the situation.
“I was told that I would get a dedicated officer to help with my campaign but nothing materialised.
“It’s disheartening for us - we have reported numerous near-misses in the area both to South and West Yorkshire Police, including shocking videos.”
Changes to the Highway Code were brought in three years ago, which resulted in drivers being told to pass horses at no more than 10mph and with two metres of space.
However, Julie’s called on local police bosses to commit more officers in order to put on more action days such as the ride-out event alongside South Yorkshire Police’s mounted division in Brierley and Grimethorpe last year which failed to return despite dozens of drivers being stopped.
“Drivers need to take more caution, but they don’t.
“More signs need to be put up around the area where one horse, Bess, died as the roads around Shafton, along the West Yorkshire border, are semi-rural and often where motorists exceed the speed limit.
“It’s something that requires urgent attention - the amount of near-misses our group’s members report is frightening.
“Hopefully our voices will finally be heard, but we need both local authorities to join forces to change what we’re constantly facing.”
Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis told the Chronicle that horse riders deserve to use the roads in safety.
“I have raised the issue of drivers passing too closely to horses both locally and nationally, engaging with the police, local councillors and a government minister.
“The enforcement of the law on close passing rightly rests with the police and they have my full support in keeping riders safe, protecting horses and apprehending dangerous drivers.”
