12 minute read
Stables, Yards and
Planning consultant Angela Cantrill of The Rural Planning Company shares her insider knowledge on planning considerations for personal yard owners and its all in the preparation and planning.
Know your local planning authority Different planning authorities have widely varying attitudes. They all broadly work to the National Planning Policy Framework, but interpretations can differ. Whether proposing a small manage or possible larger development find out about your local authorities’ attitude to that kind of development by looking at similar applications in the area and planning policy. Some may be very open to equestrian proposals others may not, due to certain designations, for example the green belt. In some instances, it may be worthwhile talking to the local planning authority before a formal planning application. The need for planning permission Planning permission is not generally required for the grazing of horses on agricultural land however if any other equestrian activities on this land such as use for exercise or training, the breeding of horses (in the case of a stud farm), racing stables or the erection of stables, indoor outdoor riding areas and manages, permanent jumps, gallops, lighting columns, hard standing and other permanent structures related to the equestrian activity will require planning permission. The conversion of farm buildings to equestrian use also requires planning consent. There is a right to use land or buildings within the curtilage of a dwelling house for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling house and stables and other horse-related developments must conform to certain limitations. Mobile field shelters Local planning authorities generally accept that one mobile field shelter per field may be required provided it is moved regularly to new locations in the field to demonstrate that it is mobile. As mentioned earlier the grazing of horses on agricultural land does not require planning consent, however ‘to keep’ horses usually does, and therefore keeping horses can be controlled by conditions of a planning permission. It will depend to what degree the structure is ‘attached’ to the land which will determine whether the structure requires planning permission. Temporary uses of land The use of land for a temporary purpose is permitted for between 14 and 28 days in any calendar year depending on the activity (the period is reduced to
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By Angela Cantrill
PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS For Yard Owners
ANGELA CANTRILL IS A CHARTERED SURVEYOR AND PLANNING CONSULTANT AT THE RURAL PLANNING CONSULTANCY, ONE OF HER SPECIALISMS IS PLANNING FOR EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES.
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14 days for markets, motor vehicles and motorcycle racing, speed trials and associated practising). So, for instance, activities such as cross-country events and pony club rallies would be permitted for 28 days or less. During 2020 and 2021 the government increased the number of days permitted under a temporary use to 56 days. As a practical tip - any jumps, dressage markers, TREC courses or other paraphernalia associated with a temporary use of land will be counted as part of the permitted eligible days. In situ for more than ten years? Where a development has been carried out and used continually, in breach of planning control, no enforcement action can be taken by the local planning authority after a period of ten years has elapsed, commencing from the date of the breach. With some careful preparation and planning before you approach the local planning authority, you could get this ‘regularised’ by applying for a Certificate of Existing Lawful Use.
Is there a longer-term strategy to consider? You may have great aspirations to further develop your facilities, and this is where some strategic thinking could come into play to help ensure you achieve the best outcome when applying to the local planning authority for permission. For instance, could existing buildings be better utilised for the practical operation of the facility and could other planning applications and facilities be put in place first, before the ultimate application, to give you a better facility in the long run.
For information on planning for equestrian facilities visit www.therural planningco.co.uk
STABLE ENVIRONMENT:
PROTECT AGAINST EQUINE HERPES
To protect horses from diseases, including equine herpes, owners should look to increase levels of hygiene in stables, advises BASF rural hygiene specialist, Helen Ainsworth.
“More frequent and thorough use of disinfectants can help to reduce the risk of diseases like equine herpes spreading,” she says. Disinfectants can reduce the spread of diseases dramatically if used carefully and consistently. “A focus on hygiene is one of the simplest and most economical ways to reduce the spread of disease and promote healthy conditions in stables and vehicles,” she explains. To make the most of disinfectant and reduce the spread of diseases, Helen suggests:
1) Thoroughly disinfect all
accommodation. This is best achieved by pressure washing the sides and floors of stables with a quality detergent before spraying with a disinfectant.
2) Bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms are often present on
clothing and boots. Those working with horses should be sure to wear clean overalls and dip boots in disinfectant to reduce the risk of introducing harmful diseases. Before entering stables, it is also good practice
to wash hands with a bactericidal soap.
3) Any equipment that is being used in conjunction with horses should be
disinfected in a solution of Sorgene
Xtra before being used. Sorgene Xtra is a Defra approved, broad spectrum environmental disinfectant which contains a stabilised blend of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. It is totally effective against viruses, bacteria and hard to kill fungal spores. Solutions should be changed frequently. “We have the tools to reduce the spread of viruses to an absolute minimum. Owners can protect themselves, their friends, family and horses by simply keeping their stables and equipment clean and using a disinfectant properly,” concludes Helen.
www.basf.com
By rural hygiene specialist Helen Ainsworth
SIMPLE YET SMART SECURITY FOR HORSE OWNERS
Rural crime is on the increase and it’s hitting pockets hard. According to a recent report by the insurance firm NFU Mutual, the cost of rural crime has climbed to an eight-year high.
One particularly worrying trend is organised crime, which is making its presence known in the countryside. Thieves are stealing farm vehicles to order, and horse owners are becoming a key target, with criminals on the look-out for horseboxes, trailers, saddlery and tack. One convenient solution gaining popularity among the equine community is keyless access control. No more forgotten keys Livery yards are busy places, with horses coming and going, and people arriving at different times of the day. This poses problems when liveries forget their keys and can’t get in, but also when tack rooms, feed stores and farm offices are left unlocked when they go riding. A simple mechanical coded lock can overcome these difficulties, allowing shared owners to visit horses at any time, as well as keeping expensive equipment and personal belongings secure, without the need for multiple keys. Angela, a keen one-day eventer and stable yard owner from Ludlow, found that coded locks are perfectly suited to her needs. She doesn’t live on the site where two-year old Hector, her pride and joy is stabled – but wants to be sure all horses and equipment is secure, and her horse is well looked after: “I wanted to find a lock that would be weatherproof for the farm office, and an easy-to-use coded lock for the tack room and feed store, as I need to give other horse owners access when I am on holiday or have work commitments.”
Controlling access to equipment In larger farms and yards, people typically need to access shared spaces for paperwork, tack or equipment. Protecting kit is important, but nobody wants to waste valuable riding time hunting down the key to the feed store or waiting for the stable office to open. With a modern keyless access control solution everyone can get hold of everything they need, when they need it, with a single access code. Access control is important on the move too. Horseboxes have traditionally been an easy target for opportunistic crime, but by fitting a small and robust lock on the horse area stalls, riders can leave the rear ramp down while they are out competing without the worry of anyone entering the front cab or living area.
Reliability whatever the weather Locks in rural settings need to be able to withstand everything the UK climate throws at them. Specially designed locks, treated with a coating, help to prevent damage caused by corroding –making them ideal for rural and agricultural settings. Angela had a CL510 Marine Grade lock, intended for harsh weather conditions, installed at her stables: “So far my lock has seen wind, rain and snow, and it still looks as good as new and operates as smoothly as the day I bought it.” Installing a modern keyless access control solution means horse owners can spend less time searching for keys and more time enjoying their horses.
www.codelocks.co.uk
HOW TO PREVENT THE
What does a five-star cruise ship have in common with many rural and farm properties? Apart from wonderful views and a fabulous location, they also share the potentially stinky problem of no mains sewage system and blocked drains.
That’s where Tanki, a new, environmentally friendly, gluefree toilet tissue comes to the rescue to save your sewage system, whether that be at home, at the yard or in your horsebox. Founder Matt O’Crowley is a former deck officer with the Merchant Navy and recognised the need for a toilet paper that is glue and plastic free and that does not clog up the world’s sewage systems or seas with material harmful to marine life. Thankfully, historic lavatorial arrangements for off grid properties are becoming a thing of the past and polluting septic tanks and cesspools are getting a well needed upgrade to modern sewage treatment plants. Whilst these give householders some of the convenience of being on the mains, a few issues remain particularly blockages and problems caused by standard loo roll which contains glues to hold the sheets together. As farmers and landowners look at more ways to diversify, the need for toilet facilities in out of the way places increases and the challenges of off-grid waste management become ever more apparent. Tanki, based in Shrewsbury, is both glue and plastic-free and as well as for household use, is also aimed at the maritime, rural and leisure market. With more than 1,000 direct customers and many more through a growing number of retailers, sales are rocketing in rural areas. Country stores are becoming an increasingly important market sector as the benefits to rural properties are recognised. Ace Farm Supplies have seen sales increase since launching the brand, and now stock nothing else. “We immediately liked the idea of this environmentally friendly loo roll, but we also needed to be sure that our customers would be happy to switch from their regular brand. We arranged an army of farmers wives to give Tanki a rigorous test and they were unanimous in their approval”, said store manager, Rob Pugh. Matt O’Crowley said, “Now, the intention is to have Tanki in every yard, horsebox, boat, caravan, farmhouse and off grid home in the UK.”
www.tanki.co.uk
Suggested Products...
BiGDUG Solid Rubber Stable Mats are designed to keep your horse warm and safe in their stable. The recycled non-toxic crumbed rubber ensures that all of the heat (usually lost through concrete flooring) stays in the stable. As well as offering excellent insulation from cold floors, they also provide a non-slip surface which is very useful for older horses that require more grip. The mats are 1m x 1m, and do not require any adhesive to be laid – they are heavy enough to stay put in the position of your choice, and can easily be trimmed to fit the exact size of your stable with a jigsaw or angle grinder. There are also grooves in the top of the mats which assist with drainage to keep the area dry. RRP: £34.80 each www.bigdug.co.uk
CHAIN HARROWS EXPLAINED
By SCH Supplies
Every smallholding and private paddock is different, but managing meadows can always be a difficult task.
The SCH Chain harrows will help you keep your grassed areas in good condition. They can be used for pulling thatch and dead grass from paddocks, for levelling and preparation of seedbeds, and will also assist in maintaining horse and pony arenas. Choose from either towed or mounted versions of different sizes so that you can get precisely the right attachment for you.
3 Way Chain Harrow
(Ref: 3WCH5&6)
By design, the 3 Way Chain Harrows, are easier to pull than conventional chain harrows. The primary feature of these chain harrows is that they can be pulled in three different directions to achieve the desired effect. The tines of the harrow protrude more if pulled in one direction, creating an aggressive application. If the tow bar is changed to the other end of the chain harrow, the tines protrude less, creating a passive application. The harrow can also be turned upside down, making it perfect for levelling grassed areas. Mini Chain Harrow
(Ref: MCH) (48")
The Mini Chain Harrow MCH (pictured above) has a working width of 48" and is best suited for work behind tractors of 15Hp and above. It makes light work of removing dead vegetation from lawns, paddocks and large grassed areas, but is also an ideal solution for seedbed preparation; both levelling and covering.
Mini Chain Harrow Mounted On Three Point Linkage
(Ref: 3MCH) (48")
A standard 48" Mounted Mini Chain Harrow 3MCH is mounted on a robust frame which has a category 1 three-point linkage. The main advantage of mounting is the ease of transport; the ability to lift the tines facilitates the simple and easy clearing of debris, provides more manoeuvrability on corners, turning at row ends and avoids over harrowing on the headlands. As well as making transportation from the place of storage to the area of work a smooth operation.
8' Chain Harrow
(Ref: CH8) (96")
The biggest of the harrows is the 8’ Chain Harrow CH8 at a working width of 96", a compact tractor of 18Hp and above are able to pull the harrow. The tines are staggered to give excellent coverage over the ground, making them extremely useful in the rejuvenation of horse arenas.
For your free 80 page brochure featuring over 200 British built machines visit www.schsupplies.co.uk
Chain Harrow CH8 Mini Chain Harrow Mounted On Three Point Linkage
