FOREST carriage-drivers and horse riders have planned a public meeting at the end of the month to launch a project for a 'multi-use' trail.

The Greenways Project, which would see riders, carriage drivers, cyclists and walkers sharing routes across the Forest, be launched on March 30 at Mitcheldean Community Centre at 1.30pm.

At the meeting the Forest of Dean Riders and Carriage Drivers Association (FODRCDA) will introduce project manager Phillip Cooke, who worked on a feasibility study in 2010/11.

The FODRCDA say the study, which obtained funding from Forest of Dean Local Action, investigated the extent to which public rights of way throughout the district could be linked together to provide a more cohesive network of routes for all non-motorised users. 

It also identified where links could be made in the network with the support of private landowners and the Forestry Commission.

"This event will provide an opportunity for people to talk with the association members about the route and to find out how a similar project in Monmouthshire is progressing. There will be brief presentations from the panel on the day and plenty of time for questions," the FODRCDA says in a press release.

Association members, who have been working for several years on mapping the route, realised that the Countryside Rights of Way Act gives free and permanent access to walkers but no such safeguards were in place for cyclists and equestrians, states the release.

"The project aims from the start were to secure permanent rights of way for them as well.

"At a late stage in the bidding process it was requested that a change in the bid was made by the Forest of Dean District Council and the Local Action Group and so the map from the feasibility study has been revised and the route amended.

"The proposed routes have been selected to maximise the economic benefit of the project and promote the district as a national centre for outdoor recreation using experiences gained from other similar projects.

"Several private land­owners have generously consented to the creation of new rights of way across their land and the Forestry Commission together with Gloucestershire County Council public rights of way team have been involved throughout the investigative stages and continue to work with the association on the Greenways Route.

"Mitcheldean has been chosen as a location as it is fairly central within the project's scope and within the district as a whole."

To find out more about the Association's work visit the website www. deanforestriders.co.uk