Could anyone that has had a menage built...

EFS We're a bit further along than that. Got pp accepted but with some really funny restrictions, interested in peoples experiences!
 
I know someone who was refused permission for floodlights.
She has had security lights fitted to the yard/stable ends.
Gosh, they are SOOOOO sensitive, they come on when anyone walks across the school, and they are EVER SO bright. ;) Should definitely deter the prowlers, 'cos they stay on for AGES. ;)
 
What are your restrictions?

Some councils worry about fencing, but I think you can get past that. Others worry about the colour of the surface, which might be more difficult to get them to change their minds about.
 
Restrictions are that:

1) We are not allowed to illuminate the school. But we're confused - as illuminate suggests anything from full on floodlights to walking around it with a torch? And we already have lights that genuinely are there to illuminate the turnout area (which is in front of where the school would be) but obviously they will then illuminate the school - is that not allowed?

2) The other one I'd rather be PMed about but its to do with the ownership of the horses that are allowed to be ridden in the school.
 
1. okay, you can't put up floodlights, not without a separate planning permission relating purely to the lighting.
*cough* some of us might possibly have a 'security light' which happens to light up part of the school for times when it is essential for it to be lit at night. e.g. if i'm walking one round after getting back late from a competition, or walking a colicky one, i'll put the security light on if there's no moonlight. it's safer than us falling over in the dark, and my neighbours know about it and are totally happy about it. I don't work horses in the school after dark though.

2. this is probably private use only. if it's for a livery yard, or for hiring out, or for instructing in, you are supposed to get commercial usage of it afaik. normal planning permission is for private use, i.e. just you and the family riding in it, on your own horses.

how do i know this? because my oh-so-lovely horsey neighbour where I used to live dobbed me in to the council for just this, because 2 mornings a week i had the R.D.A. ponies and lots of volunteers, doing riding sessions for local disabled children. (which none of us were paid for, btw, so, since it wasn't for gain, i thought it'd be alright.)
I got a warning call from the council, but that was all, fwiw.
hope that helps. tbh once it's in, as long as you don't upset the neighbours, the council will leave you alone... they're too busy to go around checking up on every sandpit in the area!
 
The private use thing is really specific though...i.e. only horses owned by the owner of the land can be ridden in the school. Which is a bit of a bugger because she owns none of the horses!
 
I agree with Kerilli, they don't usually check up on anything - they're much too busy saying no to everyone!

As for lights, if you already have lights that shine on the area as a field, take as many photos of them as you can, showing that they are already in place. another option is to have a builder's portable light. When our stables were built, and obviously before the power was there, the builders had a really powerful floodlight type thing on a stand, that had a really long flex and plugged in a few hundred metres away at the house. You could always use one of those, so it could be put away after each use, that way there would be no floodlights there if anyone DID come sniffing round...
 
Could you not be using the school, when the security lights "accidentally" come on (though here, of course, you would do that sensibley and not continually create a nuisance of yourself;))?
 
Well I dont understand how they could complain about the lights that are already attached to the wall of our shed. We're allowed to put lights on the building, we dont need planning permission for it, so I dont see how they could be allowed to ban us from illuminating it.

Also, what does illumination mean? We can't walk around our own land holding torches? Could we park the car up and use headlights? If the moon is shining?
 
This is the condition on mine

The menage hereby permitted shall be used only for the private leisure purposes of the owner of the land, and shall not be used for any commercial activity, including hiring, or tuition. Reason To meet the particular needs of the applicant and to avoid the introduction of a commercial use in this rural location, contrary to policy GBC3 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.

It could be interperated in different ways - no tuition - what I can't have a lesson? Or I can't give lessons? Daughter rides in there - she doesn't own the land? Friend exercises for me and I pay someone to school when daughter is away?

We put very good lights on the building adjacent to the school before we applied for PP so they are already there

Luckily we don't have any neighbours and the school is only visible (just) from a bridleway, not from a road.
 
Thistle said:
This is the condition on mine

The menage hereby permitted shall be used only for the private leisure purposes of the owner of the land, and shall not be used for any commercial activity, including hiring, or tuition. Reason To meet the particular needs of the applicant and to avoid the introduction of a commercial use in this rural location, contrary to policy GBC3 of the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007.
Click to expand...

Thistle.......don't worry! You can do whatever you like in your arena, the council have placed no restrictions on it, whatsoever!!!! They have, however, laid down some rules and regulations on how you do your "housework" ;)
 
Yup, I agree, it only means you cant start using the arena for any commercial gain, like renting it out to your friends, that said, who would know?

At the Council I work for we only have 2 P/T enforcement officers, they only respond to complauints. So OP you only have to be careful if you have nosey snoopy neighbours.

BTW good idea about already having lights up. We were thinking about putting some floodlights up on the end of the barn to help with poo picking etc - is so happens that s where we are hoping to build an arena - eventualy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top