Petition to save Essex’s Longwood Equestrian Centre
A petition to save Longwood Equestrian Centre in Basildon from demolition has collected more than 4,000 signatures.
The centre is due to be knocked down to make way for 750 new houses and a school.
The British Horse Society (BHS) approved livery yard and riding school has been running for 30 years and runs showjumping and dressage competitions.
If the centre, which is on government-owned land, is demolished, 57 horses will need to find new homes.
And supporter Donna Watkins told H&H: “The loss of this centre would be a huge blow to horse sport in Essex.
“It is one of only two centres left in Essex that regularly offer the opportunity to qualify for national shows and is a vital stepping stone for those who wish to progress competitively.”
A petition can be found at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-longwood-ec-from-the-developers/
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.