A final decision on calls for a special horse rider crossing on an A-road in North East Lincolnshire has been deferred to find out what caused a recent crash.
Officers had recommended that North East Lincolnshire Council’s portfolio holder for housing, infrastructure and transport, Cllr Stewart Swinburn, reject a petition calling for a Pegasus crossing. It was proposed across a stretch of the A18 between East Ravendale and Ashby cum Fenby, just south of the Landmark Café, where two bridleways connect on either side of the road.
A road traffic collision in the area on 10 November was raised by the petitioner. Council officers will now contact the police to determine the root cause of the crash between a car and a motorcycle, which caused serious injuries to the motorcyclist.
Dianne Brown had submitted a petition in September for the crossing after a near-miss incident involving her granddaughter on a horse. She stated during the December follow-up meeting that the petition now had 109 signatures.
She said she was “very disappointed that the council has decided to do nothing,” noting the council officers’ recommended rejection of the Pegasus crossing. The A18 was “a very dangerous high-speed road,” and the recent collision nearby had caused “life-changing injuries” for the motorcyclist involved, Ms Brown said.
Visibility was “far from good” for horse riders. “I invite you to come and sit on a horse to experience the difficulties encountered.” She also argued that data gathered on crossings did not give a true picture because of poor weather and horse riders choosing not to cross before the petition’s launch.
Ms Brown acknowledged the crossing’s estimated cost of £250,000 and argued for a vehicle-activated warning sign if the money was needed elsewhere. “To do the minimum is just to cut back the hedges,” she added, to improve visibility. “Every time you cross the A18 on horseback, you literally take your life in your own hands.
“The best option for us riders would be for you to do something.” BBC Look North had visited and wanted to stage a horse crossing, but it was felt by riders on the day that it was too dangerous to do so, the petitioner added.
An Equans officer noted that a pair of “Accompanied horses or ponies likely to be in or crossing the road ahead” signs were put up earlier this year. Evidence for the report was compiled before the November road collision. It was acknowledged that the circumstances of the collision should be investigated in case it changed matters.
The council received a £25,000 quote for two vehicle-activated warning signs. This was not viewed as value for money because of the apparently low pedestrian and horse rider movements. Officers recommended in the report to ensure regular hedgerow maintenance with landowners and to advise local riders and Rambler groups on how to report near misses.
Cllr Swinburn asked about any opportunity to adjust the 50mph speed limit for a short area. An officer replied that if it was done, it would then need to apply to any bridleway along the A18. Cllr Swinburn told Ms Brown that they had taken “on board your concerns that you’ve raised today.” He deferred a decision until more information was obtained on the recent collision.
As for Ms Brown’s invitation to sit on a horse to view the situation from a rider’s perspective, Cllr Swinburn jovially said, “I last went on a horse about 60 years ago and I ended up with a sore bum.”