Council goes to court to halt horse drive over safety fears

The city council said it had taken the measure because of fears about public safety and the drive’s impact on other road users.

Similar events have taken place in the city in recent years, and last year about 300 people and 90 horses and carriages took part.

The council said the organiser had agreed to cancel the event but concerns that others would ignore this and still go ahead led it to apply for the injunction at Hull County Court.

A further hearing is due to take place this morning at the same court at 10.30am and interested parties are invited to attend and air their views.

The council said in a statement: “Despite assurances from the organiser that the Hull Horse Drive would not be taking place due to concerns for public safety, intelligence was received by the council and the police that a small group [was] still planning to go ahead with the drive.

“As public safety is paramount to the council, along with avoiding disruption throughout the city, an injunction was applied for which forbids the Hull Horse Drive, or similarly described event, taking place between 4 and 10 May 2013, from obstructing any highway.”

The council said the planned drive was to have taken place in the Orchard Park and Sutton Park areas of the city.

Anyone defying the injunction may be in contempt of court and could face a fine or imprisonment, the council said.

In October 2011, the council suspended a round-up of horses being grazed illegally because of fears of potential clashes with travellers attending Hull Fair.

The round-up followed complaints about dozens of horses being tethered on public land, in gardens, or running loose on playing fields, highways and other amenities.

This included animals grazing on council-owned land on the Greenway and Queen Elizabeth playing fields and a roundabout on Hessle Road.

The council, which employed a specialist horse impoundment company to retrieve the animals, said they were a “constant nuisance”.

A copy of the order banning the drive has been attached to lampposts in the area where the event was to have taken place.