The City Council would like the paddock and stable area in Farnborough Road to be run on a similar basis to another council run stables, Hole Farm Trekking Centre in Woodgate Valley Park (click here for link).
Martin Mullaney, cabinet member for Leisure, Sport and Culture says: “Here local children, including disabled children, are taught how to ride horses. The Woodgate Valley Park stables are a wonderful facility and I would urge residents who question the need for the paddock and stable to visit Hole Farm Trekking Centre.”
He was responding to an article in October’s Vale Mail in which the chair of the Stables Committee, Lynne Witkamp explained the absence of horses from the paddock following some criticism at a local meeting that money spent on the area was money wasted.
Mr Mullaney said: “The paddock area will be cut before 7th November, so that the horses can use this area over this winter. In the Spring we will do additional de-weeding to stop the regrowth of the chicory plant.”
Mr Mullaney feels that the council’s policy of combining the paddock area with the football development is ‘an attempt to bring the countryside into an urban area’.
“From my observations, Mr Mullaney says, “I would have thought the residents of Farnborough Road will get great joy of seeing horses grazing across the road from them.”
October 29, 2009...1:16 pm
Stables and paddock: council plans
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October 29, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Having had a site meeting on Tuesday 27th October,with Senior Manager, Chris Baker, Shane Fardon, Stadium Manager and John Newton I would like to personally thank Councillor Martin Mullaney and his support officer for their time.
We walked from the Stadium area of Farnborough Road and throughout the Nature Trail, up to the stables, which Mr Mullaney appeared most impressed with.
Much of the visit was really nice with very positive comments, especially around the paddock area.
I would suggest that anybody who fancy’s a nice stoll in the fresh air, can really benefit from this whole area and we all think that we are very lucky to have this facility on our doorstep. We must ensure that this area is protected.
After visiting the area again today I have noticed that what Coouncillor Mullaney promised that the grass would be cut, has effectively happened.
Thank you Councillor Mullaney for ensuring that this work would be carried out.