Showjumper’s arena plan angers neighbours

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington are being asked to approve proposals to extend and alter stables and barns and create a new 75m X 35m all-weather outdoor arena to provide training facilities for a promising young showjumper.
Jay (Jonathan)  Buxton, 24, from Croft has applied to the borough council for the development at Mustard Lane, Croft.
But his plans have drawn objections from three neighbours and from Croft Parish Council and a letter of concern has also been sent to the borough’s development management committee by local councillor Chris Vobe.
Jay Buxton has qualified to take part in the International Classes at the Horse of the Year Show next month after winning the wild card qualifying class at the British National Showjumping Championships at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.
He qualified after regaining fitness after fracturing his back in a fall at a show in Valencia in March.
He has the support of Robrecht Cnockaert, the British Showjumping Team’s veterinary surgeon.
In a letter to the council, he says: “I have been asked to support Jonathan’s  planning application for a large menage.
“Jonathan is a promising young showjumping rider who…is developing a good reputation as a producer of quality showjumpers.
“Today’s modern showjumper is quite a big animal. We are wanting them to jump over fences that can be 1.6m high with a depth or ‘spread’ of 2.0m. In order to train these animals safely and effectively it is imperative that suitable facilities are available. This includes a suitable menage which needs to be large enough to contain a full set of 14-18 jumps to have sufficient room for them to make a mistake without hurting themselves and potentially injuring the rider.
“A larger menage is thus a necessary requirement for the successful development of quality showjumpers.”
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved. The alterations to buildings, including 10 loose boxes, would not be inappropriate in the Green Belt, they say, and the outdoor arena would be within an existing paddock.
There would be no significant impact on openness, nor on the Green Belt.