Campaigners saddle up in battle to save riding centre

Throstles Nest Riding School is on an area of land close to Fagley Quarry which is the subject of a regeneration plan which includes up to 600 houses.

The riding school, which was visited by Princess Anne just two years ago, is a tenant of the landowner and is fearful for the future if the proposals gets planning permission.

Over 200 riders a week use the site, around 50 of them part of a Riding for the Disabled group.

Riders currently use fields which the developer proposed to use for housing.

The riding school, which is also home to a pony club, has been based at Throstles Nest Farm for the past 35 years.

A large number of objections have already been submitted to Bradford Council, which has yet to determine the scheme.

Riders from the centre yesterday handed over objections from across Yorkshire after tethering their horses outside City Hall.

In a letter to the council, the chief executive of the Riding for the Disabled Association, Ed Bracher, said the housing scheme would effectively remove the facility for the RDA group.

Mr Bracher said: “There are no immediately viable alternatives to the Throstle Nest centre for those currently using it, meaning the plans would lead to increasing the problem of lack of provision, at a time when government policy clearly aims to get more people active, with a particular emphasis on people with disability.”

A date has yet to be set for a planning committee to consider the outline application, which would involve the demolition of on-site buildings

Princess Anne visited the riding facility in 2012 when she opened the all-weather arena.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: “The applicat