Authority criticises condition of horse sanctuary

A HORSE re- homing and rehabilitation sanctuary in a Yorkshire National Park is facing enforcement action after it was denied planning permission and criticised for the state of its site.

The North York Moors National Park Authority’s planning committee unanimously rejected plans for the All For Horses centre, at Silpho, four years after the charity set up there.

The decision came six months after the sanctuary had been warned it needed to transform its operation and manage the land better.

Officers said there had been little improvement on the site, and had taken the unusual step of switching their recommendation for the scheme from approval to rejection. The director of planning, Chris France, said as members had concluded the use of the site was unsuitable, the authority would “naturally” move to launch enforcement action on the site.

Up to 30 horses are cared for at the site, which has not been given planning permission to change the use of agricultural buildings, retain a touring caravan and Portacabin for workers and build a summerhouse and toilet block.

Following a site visit, committee members said the state of the site and its muddy lanes and brown fields was “unacceptable”. They said vegetation cover had been lost, making the land more susceptible to run- off and erosion.

Neighbouring resident Jacqui Shipman told members: “This application has had a devastating impact on the landscape.”

Members also heard the sanctuary had been asked to detail how it would make environmental improvements to the site and prove that the operation could be financed, but the information had been of a “poor quality” and

had not given any assurance that the issues would be overcome.

In response to a range of concerns, Cathy Edwards, from the sanctuary, stated the farm had performed a social and educational role and had “happily accommodated and helped over a hundred people from all walks of life over the years”. She said concerns about the horses’ welfare due to the muddy field were unfounded as the animals had the use of many acres which had not been churned up.

She added: “This is not the same as keeping livestock in a confined area – these horses have more than adequate space plus the freedom to go where they like and choose the best place to be.

“Horses settle well here and thrive – yes, they do spend a lot of time playing and this does churn some parts of the fields up in wet weather, but this is not permanent and will now be reduced by the field management plan.”