Horses get their own crossing
But critics claim cash could have been better spent
A SPECIAL facility to help racehorses cross the road has been installed in Upper Lambourn.
The estimated £20,000 cost of the bespoke crossing will be shared between West Berkshire Council, Lambourn Parish Council and the Jockey Club Estates Ltd.
However the cost raised eyebrows in some quarters, as elsewhere vital services are being cut.
Local campaign group Save our Buses (SoB) took to social media to condemn the project, stating: “No kids’ crossing from West Berkshire Council but one for horses – has the world gone mad?”
The district council replied that a commitment was made to the project last summer “and before the savings required in 2016/17 were known”.
The Upper Lambourn Road crossing, with a pair of flashing warning signs, was installed following concerns about the poor visibility of horses and jockeys riding to and from the gallops near the recreation ground.
In response to the concerns, West Berkshire Council’s traffic and road safety officers reduced the speed limit to 30mph and installed the warning system alerting motorists to the presence of horses.
The flashing signs can be used between 6am and 12.30pm when most racehorses are travelling to and from the gallops and they can be activated by riders at either side of the road by flicking a toggle-type switch.
Once activated the lights flash for 60 seconds and can be activated multiple times where groups of racehorses are crossing the road.
Graham Jones (Con, Lambourn Valley), said: “I’m pleased that we’ve been able to install this crossing and help ensure riders are as safe as they can be crossing a busy road.
“It shows that we can be responsive to local needs and innovative in our approach to solving local problems – and that we can do it working with our partners.
“The initial feedback from the trainers and riders is very positive but we will be monitoring it to gauge its effectiveness over time.”