Milton family 'baffled' by planning saga over horse arena they've had for nine years
A family in Milton say they've been left baffled following a planning saga about a horse riding arena which they've been using for nearly a decade.
Carl Davies, along with his wife Rebecca and daughters Jessica and Francesca, says a dispute with neighbours has led to a battle to keep the arena located at their back of their home, which they use to exercise their four horses.
Mr Davies has applied for retrospective planning permission for the arena, which officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council recommended for approval at a planning meeting last week.
However, on Wednesday (13th September) the council's planning committee delayed making a decision on the application so staff could look into drainage, traffic and lighting matters in more detail.
Mr Davies said: "One of the issues the committee raised was about transport – but the application is for a horse arena, which reduces the need for me to travel. The highways department had no issue with it."
He added: "The committee brought up an issue to do with drainage, which is to do with Bagnall bank but they made out it was just to do with me."
He's also frustrated that the committee discussed placing a restriction on the use of his driveway, meaning he'd have to offload horses from the road.
He believes this would be dangerous and impractical, due to how narrow the road is nearby his property.
He said: "I have been dragged through this process due to neighbourly feuds.
"The councillors brought up issues that were not relevant to the application. They couldn't even distinguish between flood lighting and walkway lighting.
"The application is for the safe use of the horses for myself and my family. I was very disgruntled."
He said complaints about the planning application had been ongoing for more than two years.
He believes it stems from lockdown when he set up an online retail business from his home and his neighbours were unhappy about it.
Although the business has since moved to separate premises, Mr Davies says the dispute has continued.
He said: "It is all due to issues with the neighbours. I have had to build a two metre fence to block the neighbours out and I've had to put cameras up around the property.
"The stress it causes me is terrible."
The family have lived in the property for 11 years, and say they've had the menage for around 9 years.
There were three objections to the menage submitted to the council, with concerns including traffic issues from use of a horsebox, as well as the use of lighting and noise disturbance.
The application will now be brought back to the planning committee, potentially at their next meeting on 11th October.
READ MORE: Plans to transform vacant Burslem pub into new flats approved by council
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