SOMERSET equestrians have failed in their efforts to secure an “inappropriate” right of way - straight across the busy A303.

The South Somerset Bridleway Association applied to get a contested bridleway across the dual carriageway at Sparkford added to the definitive rights of way map for the county – which lists all public footpaths and bridleways which can be used.

The campaign group said this would allow Highways England to put in a new footbridge for horses and pedestrians as part of mitigation when the A303 near Sparkford is dualled in the coming years.

But Somerset County Council’s regulation committee threw out the plans earlier this month (April 8), arguing there was no evidence of the bridleway being in use.

The disputed route begins at the A359 High Street and runs westward behind existing properties until it reaches the dual carriageway north of the Sparkford roundabout.

It then crosses the A303 and continues west for a short distance before joining up to an existing footpath near Hazlegrove Preparatory School.

Highways England was granted permission by the government in late-January for a £250 million scheme, which will see the A303 between the Sparkford and Podimore roundabouts turned into a dual carriageway.

As part of the scheme the Sparkford roundabout will be enhanced, with a brand new underpass being created to allow pedestrians, cyclists and horses to cross safely.

READ MORE: Plan to dual section of A303 near Sparkford gets green light

Sarah Bucks, from the South Somerset Bridleway Association, said that including the route on the council’s definitive map would ensure Highways England would be legally bound to provide an alternative route over the A303.

She said: “We believe there is going to be a footbridge to the east which will connect two of the footpaths.

“We have put the application in to alert Highways England that there is a right of way there and they need to mitigate it. This way we don’t have to go through the underpass on the roundabout.

“It is silly to expect horses to gallop across the A303, but this way Highways England will have to mitigate for it and can give us a route.”

Councillor Mike Lewis, whose Castle Cary division includes Sparkford, said that adding the route to the council’s map would create big legal problems both during and after the dualling work.

He said: “Ms Bucks’ reasoning for putting this forward was not to establish a use by horses and pedestrians, but to persuade others that there should be a bridge that will enable pedestrians and horses to cross the A303.

“There are real issues with using this particular access because there is no user evidence of a bridleway. Yes, it may have been established in 1874, but it was largely unused until the Second World War, when Hazlegrove House was a hospital.

“This application has been taken out of turn to put pressure to have another route established for access over the A303.

"We spent four years with Highways England on public consultation over access, and this route was not raised as an issue.

“It’s inappropriate for us to put this on the definitive map. We have significant problems on bridleways and footpaths in the Sparkford areas from motorised vehicles using them when they’re not meant to.”

The committee voted unanimously not to recognise the bridleway after just under 40 minutes’ debate.

Highways England intends to begin construction of the new dual carriageway by the end of the year, with the new road expected to be completed by 2024.