Councillors urged to reject stables

People living opposite fields on Sproatley Road, on the outskirts of Preston, say they’re fed up with noise of animals and hammering of scrap metal. They cite “endless” problems in recent years, with up to 20 people using the fields, sitting round fires, shouting and using bad language when they train their horses - which have been seen trotted bareback down the road.

A neighbour, who declined to be named, said: “It has affected us dramatically and has done for the past three or four years. The horses kick and bang the wooden stables at 2am or 3am in the morning. There is always knocking, hammering and banging going on and then there’s the horse urine, smell and manure. There is no respect for anybody, they just do what they want to do and make a general nuisance.”

The owners have applied for planning permission to retain the stables, saying the paddock provides shelter for the horses and the site is screened by trees and a hedge. Residents have sent in 23 letters of objection and signed a 121-signature petition against the plans.

The application will be heard at a meeting next Monday. Coun John Dennis said: “There is a lot of local discussion and people are concerned and I think it need airing before the committee. There seems to be activity down there which is not to the liking of neighbours who are used to peace and quiet.”

Planners recommend that the plans, which include planting a new hedge, should be approved. They say it is a “minor form of development” and the level of noise and nuisance “does not give rise to significant harmful impacts” on neighbouring properties. East Riding Council said they’d queried the claims about a business being run from the site with the agent, who had denied it.