THE owners of a Warrington riding school have won planning consent for an indoor riding centre – with the help of nearby residents.
Planning officers recommended the scheme at Friends Lane Riding Centre, Penketh be refused when it went before the borough council’s development management committee.
They said the development would be inappropriate in its Green Belt setting. But 52 residents supported the scheme and members of the committee agreed.
The scheme was also supported by Penketh Parish Council.
Councillors were told about 300 riders were likely to attend the school each week – an increase of about 17 per cent on the existing usage.
At present, the school, which teaches carriage driving as well as horse riding, uses an outdoor ménage, fields around the school, and local roads.
But at times, the fields cannot be used because of drainage problems in wet weather.
The indoor riding centre would enable more lessons to take place.
Five residents opposed the application and claimed people supporting the scheme did not live locally.
