U-turn on proposal to ban horse riders from forest park

18 January 2017

A DRAMATIC U-turn is underway over a decision to ban horses from Castlewellan Forest Park.

Newry Mourne and Down Council has confirmed it is working with the Forestry Service to reverse a controversial decision to stop horse riders using the local forest trails.

Officials initially said the decision, which would be enforced until the end of the summer at least, was necessary to ensure the health and safety of park users while essential tree maintenance was carried out.

But in a joint statement issues this week, officials said they were seeking to urgently identify areas where horse riding could be safely accommodated within the forest park pending a longer term solution.

This follows a huge public backlash against the news that the pastime would be banned with almost 3,000 liking a Facebook page opposing the move and thousands more writing about the importance of the forest park as a safe haven for the horse-riding community.

Mr Noel Gallagher, who runs Mount Pleasant Equestrian Centre which enjoys direct access to the park, was among those to react against the new policy, warning that it would decimate his business while affecting hundreds of people who use the centre for rehabilitation.

He was outraged by the lack of consultation over officials’ decision to suddenly lock the forest gates his centre has used to access the first park for almost five decades, effectively closing his business.

As well as tourists who enjoy the facilities of the equestrian centre, Mr Gallagher said the move also impacted several rehabilitation charities which regularly book trekking sessions for disabled adults and children.

Another person to express disgust about the lack of consultation over the ban was Wendy Findlay, who runs a horse livery yard in Crossgar and who joined the Facebook group last week.

She said there was a decreasing number of safe places for people to horse ride and warned there was widespread confusion as to why the danger of falling trees was only considered a hazard for horse riders when cyclists, walkers and people with prams also use the trails.

“This affects the availability of safe places to go with horses and although we do ride on the roads it is not very safe. It is better to put the horses in a box and go somewhere like Castlewellan,” she said.

With the mounting negative reaction, Newry Mourne and Down Council indicated the decision may soon be reversed as it considers potential for accommodating horse riding activity in the forest park, while effectively managing tree felling and the use of the mountain bike and walking trails.

Confirming that the capacity for horse riding activity will be assessed, the council said it had asked Mourne Heritage Trust, which manages the walking and mountain bike trails on its behalf, to identify areas of the forest in which horse riding can safely be accommodated for an interim period.

“This work is being progressed as a matter of urgency after which any proposed identified areas will be discussed with stakeholders and agreed with Forest Service,” the spokeswoman said.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairwoman Gillian Fitzpatrick said it was clear that the community greatly valued the opportunity for horse riding that has been provided over the years in the forest.

“We are pleased to be working in partnership with Forest Service to comprehensively consider arrangements for the practical and safe conduct of horse riding in Castlewellan Forest Park in the

context of the various forestry, commercial and leisure activities that take place,” she said.

“We hope in the coming days to identify specific areas of the forest to cater for this activity on an interim basis, extending the licence agreement we currently have with Forest Service that facilitates management of other recreational activity. We will then look forward to engaging stakeholders in consideration of the feasibility of longer term arrangements.”

Although Mr Gallagher said he was relieved a u-turn was imminent, he said he remained angry about the way in which council and Forestry officials had dealt with him over the matter.

“I am not one to complain but I have been in business for 20 years, I have had 100 people working for me and I have seen some bad dealing in my time, but I have never been dealt with in the way in which I was dealt with by this government body,” he said.

“The Department of Agriculture gave us a grant some years ago to develop the centre and then it effectively closes us without any discussion.

“I was never invited to a meeting or invited to have my say. If they had explained their reasoning, maybe I would have accepted it, but they never asked about our business or even offered an explanation.

“After over 40 years of being here, the gates we have always used for the trekking centre were suddenly locked.

“Although I am glad it is resolved, I am angry that this has taken so long. I have begged them in emails to change their minds but once there is massive publicity and reaction they decide to do something about it.”

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder