A HORSE riding charity has been told to shut down its arena after losing an appeal against a decision to refuse it planning permission.

Karele, which provides therapy sessions for children and adults with emotional or behavioural issues or who are isolated or socially disadvantaged, took over the outdoor arena and set up associated buildings next to a row of cottages at Sunnyside Farm, near East Linton.

However, relations with neighbours deteriorated, leading to a list of complaints about riders overlooking gardens, dumped rubbish attracting rodents and horse manure being left around.

At a meeting of East Lothian Council’s Local Review Body last week, it was claimed that neighbours had been deliberately mowing lawns and using strimmers in their gardens during children’s lessons to try and disrupt them.

And it was claimed that complaints from neighbours included one asking them to stop a horse neighing in the field at night.

The family-run charity, which sits on land behind the cottages, applied for planning permission to change the use of agricultural land for the keeping of horses, erection of stable block, horse shelters and associated outbuildings and formation of the riding arena.

Karele, run by Jeff and Cath Ferguson, who live in Haddington, has been on the site since 2016 and currently has 60 children and young people who come for regular sessions with the horses along with a number of vulnerable adults.

The retired couple, who are volunteers themselves with the charity, have 14 horses in 21 acres of fields at Sunnyside Farm. They are now holding regular sessions at Rockrose Equestrian Centre, across the road from their site.

Jeff told the Courier they were being allowed to use space there as they looked at a way forward.

And he revealed that the outdoor arena which neighbours complained about had been on the site for 25 years.

He said: “Obviously we are very disappointed by the decision: the arena has been there for 25 years and we worked hard to find a solution. We are continuing to offer our sessions at Rockrose for the time being and meeting with planners.”

The application, which was first lodged in March 2018, was partly retrospective and the arena and a portacabin which was used as a meeting point and base for the charity were already in place.

However, 10 letters objecting to the plans were received, although it was pointed out that six of them came from two objectors.

Among the objections were claims riders overlooked gardens at Sunnyside Cottages creating a loss of privacy; up to 10 cars were there at busy times when there were only two parking spaces; manure was left for days, creating an unacceptable smell; and rubbish was left, ranging from used nappies to litter, with no toilet facilities or rubbish collection areas on site.

Planning officers refused permission for the site on the grounds of detriment to neighbours and lack of safe access to the site in March.

Appealing to the Local Review Body in a statement, Karele said it had “problems with the neighbours” from the beginning.

It urged the review body to allow its appeal and grant planning permission, adding: “Allow us to continue with this very important and beneficial work.

“We have been operating on this site since 2016 and have gradually built up a clientele that offer a service that benefits vulnerable adults and children.

“We like to think we are contributing to the overall wellbeing of the community, and if the charity were to cease we feel it would be detrimental to the people who have come to rely on us.”

The charity also listed incidents involving residents of the cottages, including one complaining about a horse “neighing during the night” and another removing wiring from spotlights.

It also claimed that one resident allowed their dog to defecate in an area used by children to groom horses, while it said: “Each weekend, as soon as we start giving the children a little time riding, the electric mowers, strimmers etc start, which is very dangerous.”

At the Local Review Body meeting, councillors expressed regret over the relationship between residents and the charity but said the arena was too close to the cottages.

Councillor Katie Mackie said: “I think the proximity of the arena to the houses will have an impact as far as noise and amenity. I am concerned about road safety as well.”

Fellow member Councillor Fiona O’Donnell said she would support the decision to refuse permission “with a heavy heart”.

She said: “The relationship between the residents and the operator is clearly making life difficult for both. I am concerned about it operating in its current location.”

She urged Karele to engage with the landowner and look for other options.

Councillor Neil Gilbert, chairing the review body, said it was a difficult decision to take, but he saw no reason to overturn the refusal.

The appeal was unanimously rejected.