Blidworth rider's fury after being ordered to demolish horse shelters

Horse owners had erected shelters on a string of paddocks off New Lane, Blidworth, to provide some shelter for their animals – the 60-acre site, split into 15 paddocks and sold off by its previous owner, is home to 33 horses, many of whom are ill and elderly.

However, they were told they needed planning permission for the developments – and now the council has rejected them all, leaving the owners fearing for the animals’ welfare in the summer heat.

Rejected applications include:

Plots 3 and 15 New Lane: Change of use of land to equestrian use, new shelter and retention of open-fronted field shelter to plot three;

Plot 13, New Lane: Change of use of land to equestrian use and retention of field shelters;

Plots 9 and 10 New Lane: Change of use to equestrian use and retention of stables and field shelter;

Plot 2, Cross Lane: Change of use to equestrian use and retention of field shelter;

Plots 4, 5 and 8, New Lane: Change of use of land to equestrian and retention of associated field shelters/hay store/stables;

Plot 11, New Lane: Change of use of land to equestrian and retention of associated stables.

Gaynor Murfitt, who owns four horses, said: “Myself and others bought two plots of land at six acres for our horses in 2020.“We put removable shelters on the land, but then received a letter from the council saying somebody had complained.

“The enforcement officer came out to see us and we now have a notice on our gates from the council telling us to take our shelters down.

“This notice was issued on a really hot day – it feels cruel.

“I have gone as small as possible with the shelter, my Shetlands share a 10 feet by 10ft shelter.

“It is an animal welfare concern, especially with high temperatures like the heatwave or even in winter, it gets so cold as it is by a wind farm.

“In adverse weather conditions the horses need a basic shelter as a bare minimum. There is no natural shade on the fields.

“We have no alternative location for our horses to be moved to.

“This is our land. We are all hardworking people – two of the paddock owners worked all the way through the coronavirus pandemic as intensive care nurses in King’s Mill Hospital and tis is the place they come to relax and enjoy their time.

“The enforcement is an ongoing nightmare and so is the real possibility of up to 30 horses plus having to find new homes.

“There is no land to rent, anything not in green belt is being built on, livery yards are full and even if they weren’t, they can charge up to £350 each horse per month.

“This is absolutely tragic when you have saved up for years to buy and own your land that could be sat there doing nothing.

“The oldest horse on the land, Folly, is 32, and can't be sold on to another home. If this enforcement by the council is successful there is a real possibility she may have to be put to sleep.”

The owners have planted hedgerows and trees, but said these will not provide significant shelter for years to come.

Sam Reavley, another resident, said: “The council met with the paddock holders more than a year ago in good faith to discuss the prospective planning applications.

“It was made clear at that meeting that the council saw no issues with the proposals.

“The paddock holders were encouraged to submit applications for their modest planning developments, but those same proposals have been flatly rejected.”

The council said the land was allocated for agriculture, rather than leisure, such as equestrianism.

Coun Roger Blaney, council planning committee chairman, said: “The use of land for agriculture and the equestrian use of land are two different uses of land within planning legislation.

“Grazing horses on land is classified as agricultural from a planning use perspective.

“If the horses are given supplemental feed, kept in a field for exercise, covered with coats or if they are provided with a field shelter then the primary use of the land is no longer considered to be for agriculture.

“Any development on the land requires planning permission.

“The council received a number of applications seeking retrospective planning permission on sites within the area.

”The applications all sought the change of use of the land for equestrian purposes and for the erection of buildings to house horses, however the lawful use of the land is for agriculture.

“Policy directs that local planning authorities should regard the construction of new buildings in the Green Belt as inappropriate, with such developments being, by definition, harmful to the green belt.

“Planning permission has been refused for the change of use of the land, and the associated ‘physical’ developments.

“The council has issued planning enforcement notices that require the unauthorised use of the land to cease within 84 days and the developments to be removed within 140 days.

“We believe the timeframe allows owners to seek alternative accommodation for their animals.

“The council is sympathetic to the situation faced by the land owners, and those who keep their horses on the sites in question.“However, when considering an application for planning permission, and taking enforcement action, the council must assess many aspects to determine the planning balance.“Land owners are entitled to appeal against the council’s decisions to the planning inspectorate.”