Tuesday 28 January 2014

Redcar Council remove illegally-tethered ponies from council land in Redcar

Council team swoops to remove illegally-tethered ponies from council land in Redcar after complaints are made to ward councillors
Illegally tethered ponies - including the one pictured - have been removed from land at Low Farm Drive
Illegally tethered ponies - including the one pictured - have been removed from land at Low Farm Drive
Illegally-tethered ponies have been removed from land in Redcar after an early hours swoop.
And the council which launched the dawn raid has warned there may be more enforcement action to come if the problem continues.

Horse bailiffs, acting for Redcar and Cleveland Council, successfully carried out the action on council land off Low Farm Drive after concerns were raised to ward councillors.
The three ponies had been tethered at, or near to, the location - a practice called fly-grazing - over the last six months.

The council issued notices and the local neighbourhood team, police and Coast and Country repeatedly tried to get the owners to make appropriate arrangements for keeping their ponies, but with no success.

Following the ponies’ removal on Wednesday last week, the horses were taken to be cared for at a secure facility.
The owners have until tomorrow to claim them.

A makeshift shelter has been removed and the council has taken away barriers and hay.
Councillor Steven Goldswain, Cabinet member for community safety, said: “We are working to address this ongoing problem and the council, Cleveland Police and local housing associations remain committed to taking a firm line on horses illegally tethered and roaming on public land.
“Enforcement action, which could include the seizure of horses found on council land, will continue to be an option for the council in resolving matters like this.”

Unsecured horses have been a long-running problem in Redcar and Cleveland.
A Low Farm Drive resident, who lives near where the Redcar ponies were tethered, on the cleared site of the old Wheatacres residential home, said residents sometimes had to help the ponies if they got tangled up.
She said: “To be honest, they seemed quite well cared for and the kids liked them, but they were left out in all weathers.
"And if you’ve got nowhere to put your horses, you shouldn’t have them.”

Kirkleatham ward councillor Mark Hannon said: “Ward councillors receive continuous complaints from members of the public worried about the actions of horse owners who allow their animals to roam in public areas.”

Article by Dave Robson at Gazette Live:
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/team-swoops-remove-illegally-tethered-6595949

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