A family will have to wait for a decision on whether they can keep a horse riding arena installed almost a decade ago.

Carl Davies is seeking retrospective planning permission for the facility, which is used as an exercise area for his family's four horses on land at Bagnall Road, Milton.

Consent is also being sought to retain a timber storage building at the field and the application has been recommended for approval by Stoke-on-Trent City Council's planning officers. But committee members deferred their decision on Wednesday (September 13) so that officers could discuss drainage, traffic and lighting matters further.

Mr Davies told councillors at Wednesday's meeting there had been no complaints about the menage, which was constructed around nine years ago, until he received notification from the authority. "I had a couple of complaints from neighbours around the business we had – it's an online retail business developed during Covid", he said.

There were three objections received from residents, with concerns including traffic issues, lighting and noise (Google).

"We have now moved the business so there is no part of the business done from the house. We had a bit of confusion as the business is an equine retail business and we have our own horses.

"We do show jumping as a hobby and we wanted the menage so we would have somewhere safe to exercise the horses. The road has a whole lot of problems with traffic and we had an incident where a car hit one of the horses, as well as dogs jumping out and spooking the horses."

Councillor Dave Evans called in the application for consideration by the planning committee because of objections from residents "and the perceived potential impact the development could have on Bagnall Road and the watercourses behind the property."

There were three objections from residents submitted to the council, with concerns including traffic issues from use of a horsebox, use of lighting and noise.

Councillor Evans, who represents the Baddeley, Milton and Norton ward, said: "The big issue is it is a very narrow bit of road. I would like to seek a condition limiting the vehicles entering the site."

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