A NEWLY-elected member of Test Valley Borough Council has complained about the asphalting of part of the Test Way because it means she can no longer ride her horse in the area.

"I can't ride my horse between Romsey and King's Somborne because the former railway line is now a hard surface," said Ruth Harper-Adams, the councillor for King's Somborne.

She was speaking at a meeting of the borough council's leisure overview and scrutiny committee.

"When the decision was made over the surface why was it decided to use a hard surface?

"When people in the area were consulted they asked for scalpings in keeping with the area."

With the smooth surface cyclists can now speed along the route coming into conflict with horse riders. But she said most people had mountain bikes and would have been be able to cope with a rougher surface.

She was told the decision to use the hard surface was made by Hampshire County Council who own this section of the Test Way.

Mandy Ford, a Test Valley community officer, said she found most cyclists responsible and considerate.

But Cllr Pamela Mutton said more should be done for walkers.

"Everything seems to be done for cyclists and nothing for walkers," she said.

"Ladies Walk has been ruined because of the cyclists. Now the elderly can't walk up there because cyclists go so fast."

Another Andover councillor, Sandra Hawke, had a gripe about the work done for cyclists on Salisbury Road.

"The skateboarders are having a marvellous time on the cycle path but the cyclists are still using the road. "Perhaps we need speed humps for cyclists."