WHAT is so important about horses? Do they pay more rates than we two-legged animals?

Some years ago, when my grandchildren were toddlers, I wrote to Wirral Council pointing out the dangers of crossing Arrowebrook Road to get into Arrowe Park with all the traffic racing past at 40mph, and suggested that a sign be erected, saying 'Slow - Park Entrance'.

The council replied that it did not think it was necessary. A few months later, a sign was erected saying 'Horses', so obviously they are more important than people.

At great expense, the footpath in Arrowe Park was upgraded to a bridleway for horses and cycles.

Now the council has been working for a month, once more at great expense, to provide a path for horses from the Woodland Trust land, through the woods and across into Arrowe Park to join up with the main bridleway.

I have only seen a few riders and horses using this bridleway, but although the council has spent many thousands of our pounds in providing a bridleway, I am appalled at the damage to the open spaces in the park.

The horses do not keep to the bridleway but gallop across the meadows, probably in the early hours. One carthorse leaves hoofprints three inches deep and throws up clods of turf, completely ruining the grass areas.

J.R. Wright, Appleton Drive, Greasby.