COUNTRYSIDE officer for the Ribble Valley, Mr David Hewitt, is helping to set up a special bridleway strategy throughout Lancashire.

An increase of traffic on the county's country roads has prompted the setting up of a Bridleway Strategy Team to address safety aspects for all road users.

The team will look at the existing bridleway network to see if, and how, things can be improved by enhancing and increasing the routes available to riders.

Existing statutory rights of way will be examined as well as other possible routes where a safe link can be arranged by permission of landowners. Part of the work of the group will be to conduct a horse and rider count throughout Lancashire.

Mr Hewitt said: "There are 4,000 miles of public rights of way in Lancashire but only 241 consist of bridleway routes. Many of these are short, inaccessible and don't link in with one another.

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