MOST horse riders who regularly cross Ilkley Moor believe conditions could be improved.

They say paths are unsuitable for horses and ponies, that there are not enough signposts pointing the way, that conditions are unsafe and that it has become treacherous getting across the busy moor road.

More than 100 horse owners and riders filled in a questionnaire covering a wide scope including access to and general conditions on the moor, whether horse riders were adequately catered for in the area and whether they had ever been involved in a traffic related accident.

The questionnaires, put together by Ilkley riders Cathy Suzuki and Debbie Redman in response to the British Horse Society (BHS) access week, also asked whether people would ride out more if conditions were better.

Of the 113 who took part, just four per cent were happy with Ilkley Moor, while 56 per cent thought there was room for improvement and the rest were actually unhappy with the way it was.

"Many people commented on the amount of rubbish left on the moor by drivers and walkers and wondered whether more bins with lids could be provided and regularly emptied.

"Broken glass and plastic bottles are dangerous to both animals and humans," said Mrs Redman.

She added riders commented that the moor was usually very boggy for at least eight months of the year and asked if more railway sleepers could be installed in the areas most prone to bog.

Other areas commented on were:

l warning signs for motorists on the approach to the moor for them to be aware of horses and sheep and speed restrictions on the Ilkley Moor Road.

l large safe and marked circular routes so getting riders off the roads and away from walkers who tend to congregate at the Cow and Calf Rocks.

l a rolling maintenance plan every year to two years for the railway sleepers, waste bins and route markers.

l Addingham riders thought they were not being helped to get off the roads because their access to Addingham Moorside was being denied.

l most riders thought their needs were being ignored by those responsible for designing new roads and believed the police did not always take seriously complaints made about dangerous car drivers.

The results have now been sent to the countryside service of Bradford Council and discussions will hopefully take place to put right some of the riders concerns.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.