6. Landscape routes and connections

We support 7.3 where it advocates the inclusion of generous areas of open space and landscaping into new development. We would like to see planting of trees (whether street trees, trees on areas of greenspace or small copses) considered as part of this landscaping. We would be happy to be consulted by the district council, parish council or housing developers regarding any such opportunities. There is strong evidence that planting of trees can help create pleasant, healthy environments for local residents, as well as encouraging wildlife and helping to tackle wider environmental problems such as climate change.

This response is based solely on the VDG. There are numerous, well documented reasons why equestrian access should be included in protecting and improving access including impact on the rural economy, public money should benefit all users, health and wellbeing, local and national Planning Policies. Should the Parish Council require further details or information, the British Horse Society would be pleased to answer questions or make a presentation with a view to working with the PC to improve countryside access.
The Gamlingay VDG does not at any point mention provision for equestrians, which is unacceptable. It does not mention the inclusion of improving links from the village into the local landscape and public rights of way (PROW). It would be nice to maintain and enhance the 'green fingers' which
connect the village interior to the landscape. Connections and safe routes to the landscape are mentioned for pedestrians and cyclists, but not for equestrians. However we understand that there are 2 local equestrians on the Parish Council and that the Neighbourhood Plan does mention equestrians.
The Parish of Gamlingay has 13 Public Rights of Way (PROW) covering a distance of 8.6km, of which only 3 are Bridleways (2.16km). The bridleway network is fragmented and links are desperately needed to provided safer off‐road routes for horse riders and cyclists.

Suggestions for improvements to link up the fragmented bridleway network are:
1) Upgrade the local Footpaths 96/8 and 96/9, which would link to the Waresley cum Tetworth Bridleway no.283/7 to provide a very useful off‐road link from the village for horse riders and cyclists, and help to address the lack of off‐road routes.
2) Upgrade footpath 96/1 and the permissive footpath PPA/0181 to bridleways to provide a circular off‐road route for local horse riders and cyclists, which would track round the edge of Gamlingay Wood. Is Gamlingay Wood accessible to horse riders and cyclists?
3) Upgrade footpath 96/5 to enable horse riders and cyclists to ride to Potton Wood.
4) Upgrade footpath 96/4 from Heath Rd to link up directly to the Bridleway to Potton. If this was also combined with the creation of new paths around Gamlingay Heath for horse riders and cyclists it would provide a nice off‐road leisure route.
5) Would there be a chance to create a new bridleway using the dismantled railway line and disused pits at Little Heath?
The upgrade of these footpaths to bridleways would enable better, safer, off‐road connections to neighbouring villages for horse riders and cyclists. This should be considered as part of any building proposals in the future.
Cambridgeshire County Council has a Local Transport Policy (LTP), which sets out their transport objectives, policies and strategy for the county. A sister document of the LTP is the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP). The County Council updated its ROWIP in 2016 in line with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. You may wish to consult this document when drafting policies dealing with Non‐Motorised Users (NMU) and the Public Rights of Way network.
https://cambridgeshire.gv.uk/residents/travel‐road‐and‐parking/transport‐plans‐and‐policies/localtransport‐plan Particular interest should be given to Policies S0A1 'Making the Countryside More Accessible', S0A2 'A Safer Activity', S0A3 '57,000 New homes', S0A4 'Knowing what's out there', S0A5 'Filling in the Gaps', and S0A8 'A Better Countryside Environment' - all of which include the need for access for equestrians.

The Chapter 6 plan identifies Log Field as a 'publicly accessible green space'. However this is on a temporary arrangement with a lease that will end in 2 years. With the uncertainty that public access will continue the 'publicly accessible green space' designation on Log Field should be removed.