Equestrian store saved from developers

EAST Sussex horse owners are delighted that a local equestrian store has been saved from potential closure.

The staff at Windmill Feeds & Saddlery’s Cross in Hand branch, near Heathfield, have kept their jobs too - now the store is here to stay.

The shop was threatened with closure late last year due to nearby house development. However, business owner Martin Hook has now secured ownership of the site.

“It’s great news on several fronts,” he said. “The entrance to the property can now be improved so that the visibility is better as you enter and exit the site.

“It has secured employment in the local area for the staff, and it has staved off the possibility of customers having to travel further to buy their pet food, animal feed or saddlery items.”

Fiona Rafferty, editor of Localrider magazine, has been covering the story. “I’m pretty impressed as all around [the store] is a large housing estate now, so it’s a big commitment [by Mr Hook], but it’s also a well-supported store.”