A MOVE banning horses from Filham Park has sparked outrage among riders.

Now those affected plan to submit a petition on horseback to Ivybridge Town Council.

Ivybridge rider David Milner was 'disgusted' when he received a letter informing him horses were no longer allowed through the park 'for health and safety reasons'.

As master of hounds for Modbury Harriers, he has held a key to access the park for four years and said he had never known any problems or disturbances.

But Ivybridge Town Council's parks and open spaces committee decided in April to ban horses from Filham Park on grounds of health and safety, saying that 'horses can go out of control and cause an injury or worse to a visitor'.

Mr Milner said the reasoning behind the ban was 'bizarre' and vowed to do all he could to fight it.

He said: 'There was no consultation and no information given to anyone. It was just a case of "this is what we've decided and that's it".

'I can't believe the council would have the arrogance just to ban horses, it's ludicrous. The health and safety reasons aren't even justified. Are they saying that it's safer for a horse and rider to be riding on the busy main road rather than in the park?

'All the horses have ever done is walk on the designated paths and I have never known any problems whatsoever.

'Also, horses are no more dangerous than the drowning risks posed by the fishing lake, for example.

'Much as I support fishing in the park, installing the lake gave rise to more health and safety issues than horses ever have – or would.

'There's lots of sport allowed in Filham Park and it's wrong to pick and choose what's happening.

'The whole thing is just bizarre, and the justification I've heard from the council very infuriating.

'Some fellow riders and I who feel strongly opposed to this ban are planning to ride to the council on horseback to hand in a petition.

'We really are disgusted.'

More on this story in this week's Ivybridge & South Brent Gazette