PLANS for an equine centre in Lartington have been put on hold because of fears over the impact on woodland.
Dales Pony breeders David and Alison Eccles had hoped to build holiday accommodation and a timber cabin to host pony training events on land along Lartington Lane, but county planners recommended it be refused.
Planning officer Stephen Pilkington told the south and west planning committee’s meeting last week that it would be sited in an area of high landscape value, would impact negatively on Lartington Hall Park and the development was too close to an ancient woodland.
Lartington Parish Council had also objected. However, county councillor Richard Bell, who represents the area, said there had been a storm-damaged Dutch barn on the site and the new development would be a significant improvement. He said: “He [Mr Eccles] thought, perhaps rather naively, that if he took that down he would be able to agree an erection of a replacement building in a less obtrusive location with superior materials. That is reasonable assumption to make.
“That would appear to be a tactical error because this application is now being treated as if it were a virgin site.”
Cllr Bell said the site is not visible from Lartington Lane because of hedgerows so there would be little impact on the high value landscape views. He added: “Even if all the hedgerows were removed at a stroke the site is not visible from the hall park nor is the hall park visible from the site. There is no visible link between the two.”
Cllr Bell pointed out that the “ancient woodland” was populated by self-seeding birch trees between 20 and 30 years old, but committee chairman John Clare said soil and location, rather than tree age, determined ancient status. Cllr Ted Henderson, who also represents the area, spoke in favour of the development saying it would bring economic benefits to Teesdale and would provide employment. Several committee members were also in favour because of these reasons but others continued to worry about the ancient woodland.
The committee voted seven to five in favour of deferring the decision until more information is known about the impact on the woodland.
