Mobile home plan to help protect horses

PLANS for a mobile home at a farm at Rixton are to come before planning chiefs at Warrington for a second time.
The scheme at Moss Farm, Moss Lane, Rixton involves providing accommodation for a member of staff on a site used for the stabling of horses – even though horses have been kept on the site for the last eight years without the need of residential staff.
A month ago, planners deferred a decision on a similar application to allow time for talks on an alternative site for the mobile home
Now the applicant has submitted new proposals with the mobile home re-sited to a less visible location.
He says the site has been used in the past as a “DIY livery” – with horse owners looking after their animals themselves.  Now it is intended to provide a service for horse owners, with the applicant looking after the horses on behalf of the owners.
A report to the borough council’s development management committee states that a resident member of staff is needed to  provide security against theft, arson, escaped animals, attacks on horses, etc.
A livery service is required to ensure the farm remains, viable, the committee will be told.
But planning officers say new residential accommodation in the Green Belt should be discouraged unless a clear need can be identified. They say horses have been kept on the land for eight years without the need for on-site supervision. They are recommending the plan be refused and Rixton with Glazebrook Parish Council is also lodging an objection.