Taxi Driver Online

Brighton and Hove urged to say no to horse rides

Plans to bring horse and carriage rides to the seaside have been opposed by tourism officials over fears they could cause chaos in the streets. Brighton and Hove City Council has been asked for permission to run horsedrawn vehicles along the city’s front through the summer.

But VisitBrighton, the local authority’s tourism arm, has opposed the proposals, saying the horses could not be considered the equivalent of taxis and that the slow pace of the animals could worsen congestion in the city.

Officials add that such an attraction would be in “direct competition” with the Volks Railway. This is despite some equality groups saying children might enjoy the rides.

In a council licensing report, VisitBrighton said: “Inclusion of a horse and cart operator in areas of the city such as on Madeira Drive would add no value to the seafront or tourism offer.

“The seafront area is currently one of the busiest areas of the city for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicular traffic and adding to this congestion would not be beneficial or add value to the seafront as our ‘shop window’. “We would also be concerned with the safety implications of increased congestion.”

Staff also admitted they were worried that allowing horse and carriage rides could increase their workload, suggesting that people worried about the animals’ welfare would flood them with emails, letters and phone calls.

In the report, VisitBrighton said: “Our experience in other matters shows that our visitors would see us as being responsible in this capacity; however we do not have the resource or expertise to deal with it.”

The report will be considered by the council’s licensing committee at a meeting on Thursday

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IDFIMH

Safety must be the first thought after a person was killed by a run away horse drawn carriage at a fate organised by Bury St Edmund's council last Sunday.



http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/news/bury_ ... d_1_927057