Petition for Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary to stay at home in Elstree Village

Residents from Elstree Village and surrounding areas in the Borough of Hertsmere and nearby Boroughs, who often come with their children to Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary to enjoy themselves by visiting the horses and ponies are absolutely heart broken and outraged by the possibility of seeing the horses and ponies from Cecil’s having to leave their home in Elstree. The Sanctuary is located in Watford Road in Elstree Village and it has been there for about 5 years now, so for the horses and ponies of our Sanctuary in Elstree the Watford road site is their home now. It is terribly sad that the site has been mentioned in the Hertsmere Local Plan to probably be used either as a business development (Care homes) or house development (200 houses) 

Julie, the founder and her team of volunteers care for the ponies and horses that otherwise would have been destroyed, because before they were brought to Cecil’s they were left on their own. Julie and her team give them all their love and work really hard there. They do not care if they are covered in mud until late in the evening, all they care about is providing these lovely creatures with caring and love that probably they never had before, getting in return the horses and ponies’ love. 

Cecil’s in Watford road is not only the horses and ponies’ home, but it is also a leisure place for the community and where every one is able to learn more about these lovely  creatures. The Sanctuary is also a place for the community to meet. In Elstree, we do not have a Community Centre so Cecil’s is very much needed here. Our children deserve a place where they can enjoy and learn about our beloved horses and ponies

In the Local Plan the site is mentioned as vacant, but the horses and ponies live there. The site is greenbelt, but it looks like is already under offer and subject to greenbelt being lifted and planning. If Cecil’s is given notice they would only have 3 months to leave the site. It is very hard to find a suitable place for the horses, they need stables and more. Our Community fears what could happen to the lovely creatures that live there as we very much share Cecil’s values because we also believe “No horse or pony needlessly destroy”. Apparently, some surveys have been taking place already on the site

Besides, Watford Road is perpendicular to Elstree High Street and the site where these lovely animals live is just next to where these two roads meet so the traffic in that place is really heavy during peak hours, then building 200 houses or a care home in that place will only worsen a congestion problem that already exist there. The area is a hot spot for congestion and pollution as is near the motorways. Therefore, it makes no sense to do any business or house development there

In addition, Elstree already has two care homes : BUPA in Elstree High Street and Sunrise in Barnet Lane so why yet another one?

Moreover, there are ancient trees on the site that need to be protected

This community has been going through extremely hard times. First, we had to put up with hazardous stench from the Reviva Composting site for about 8 years until the type of business there was changed. We are facing the possibility of losing our beloved “Aldenham Reservoir” that is located also in our Village and now we could lose our “Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary”. The Village of Elstree is a small one, but is facing too much. This is so unfair. We are not going to let our Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary go without a fight, so please if you like us care about our horses and ponies and our community sign this petition and share it. “No horse or pony needlessly destroy” #CecilsHorseSanctuaryshouldstayathomeinElstreeVillage

If people wish to donate to Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary please go directly to the Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary Facebook page or go to the Cecil’s Horse Sanctuary website