I am writing in response to the call for evidence on the general principles of the Active Travel (Wales) Bill in my capacity as Chair of The BHS Wales National Committee.

Firstly I write to fully endorse the comments put forward by Mark Weston, Director of Access for The British Horse Society, and the comments put forward by Jeanne Hyett, the Wales Regional Access and Bridleways Officer.

I understand that over a 1/3 of the responses received to the initial consultation were from horse riders and carriage drivers.  I am extremely disappointed , therefore, that their comments have been ignored.  The exclusion of horse riders and carriage drivers from this Bill is not only shortsighted, but is likely to lead to an increase in the amount of road accidents.  

There seems to be a total lack of understanding of the amount of money brought into the economy of Wales by horse owners each year. This is evidenced by the fact that all Bills currently coming forward for consultation seem to ignore their existance completely.  This fact, combined with the apparent omission of consultees comments in such Bills as this, leads me to believe that the fuller picture is not being taken into consideration by the Welsh Government. 

I urge you to reconsider the exclusion of horse riders and carriage drivers from this Bill.