UK Edition
Controversial knacker's yard approved in racehorse heartland
Claims that horses can smell death have been rubbished after plans to build a knacker’s yard in the so called Valley of the Racehorse are given the go ahead.
West Berkshire Council has granted permission for an equine crematorium to be situated on the former Old Wessex Saw Mill in Great Shefford, Berkshire.
The decision comes after equine experts insisted that the smell of carcasses would spook their prized animals in nearby Lambourn, which is home to more than 1,500 racehorses.
The Planning Inspectorate however stated that the effect of the crematorium on nearby horses was "not substantiated".
The report added: "I therefore can only attach very limited weight to these matters in my consideration of the proposal."
The Council had previously twice rejected the plans in the past three years.
In 2014, J Passey and Sons, applied for permission to open an abattoir on the site, which was refused the following spring.
In 2016 the company submitted plans for an equine crematorium, which were again refused by West Berkshire Council.
Residents of Great Shefford have fought against the proposals claiming their horses "know the smell".
Henrietta Knight, who trained three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate in the Lambourn valley, had strongly opposed the plans.
She said: “It’s amazing how horses do know. They know the smell, they know something’s going on.”
Mark Bradstock, trainer of Cheltenham Gold Cup 2015 winner Coneygree, who is based in the Lambourn valley also raised concerns over the knacker’s yard.
He said: “I remember as a kid they had an abattoir, and when we rode our ponies past they got scared of it. It was bloody difficult getting our ponies past it,” Mr Bradstock said.
The planned site will not actually play host to any animal killings, but will receive and store bodies which will subsequently be incinerated.
Great Shefford is close to Lambourn, which is home to several upscale stables, which mostly specialise in breeding colts for flat racing.
Celebrities, the Royal Family and Arab oil millionaires have had horses hosted in the area around the valley, which is known as the ‘Valley of the Racehorse’.