I WOULD like to respond to a story in The Argus on April 30 concerning horse droppings.

Rottingdean, being a satellite town of Brighton and Hove, has developed a heritage it should be proud of.

In fact, our parish council and preservation society are both mindful of their responsibilities to preserve the area’s traditions and environment.

Both bodies jealously guard against indiscriminate developments within the conservation area, and the parish beyond.

Far from being “killjoys”, most residents are keen to maintain cultural elements that include four-legged species such as the horse.

In general, laws have been established to protect the environment and the public. In the same way there is legislation against dog fouling, there is also legislation on horses.

Riders are clearly instructed to use the road, ideally in line-ahead formation, yet on the other hand they are debarred from using public footpaths.

While motor traffic dissipates droppings, this isn’t the case with pedestrians.

If circumstances arise where they cannot use the road, any resultant dung should be removed by the rider, or the stables in which the horses reside, either during or immediately after transit.

Failure to do so raises a number of issues, such as the litter act and health and safety, particularly where children regularly go to and from school. This is the case further up Falmer Road near Longhill High School.

When the issue was raised recently, we were informed that it was a matter for the police and not individual councils.

All too frequently, many laws of the land are know-ingly flouted due to the fact there is no surveillance or deterrents to adequately enforce the law.

Harold Williams, Rottingdean resident