Petition to the Local Council: Protect Our Family Farm and Horses

 

To: Broxtowe Borough Council. 

We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concern and opposition to the recent decision made by the council regarding the land at Grass Croft Farm, located at Babbington Lane, Kimberley, NG16 2PT, which has been in our family for the past two years. Our family moved to this farm from a smaller property, with the intention of continuing our farming practices and caring for our horses.

Terry Anthony, the patriarch of our family, has spent his entire life with horses. He has bred, raced, and shown horses for decades, and this lifelong dedication to the care and management of horses has been passed down through the generations. Today, Terry’s youngest great-grandchild, just three years old, continues this cherished family tradition by riding and bonding with the horses.

While we initially applied to use a portion of the land (1/7 of the agricultural land) for equine purposes, including running a small riding school and livery service, we have since decided that we no longer wish to pursue that course of action. Instead, we simply wish to retain the right to keep our family horses on the farm.

The council has given us a six-week notice to remove all 15 of our family horses from the property, with the exception of Terry’s horses and the two pregnant mares until they are cleared by a vet to be moved. This decision will have devastating consequences for our family, especially for Terry, who is 90 years old, and his granddaughters Chloe and Millie, who have helped care for the horses on the farm. If forced to move the horses, Terry will be left alone to care for his own animals, which would be physically and emotionally overwhelming for him. Several of our horses are elderly, injured, or rescued, and without appropriate stabling, they will have to be put to sleep.

We ask the council to reconsider this decision and grant us the rights to keep our family horses on the farm. We request the following:
 1. Allow us to continue keeping our horses on the farm.
 2. Reevaluate the decision to remove the horses and work with us to find a humane solution.
 3. Provide us with the necessary support to maintain our family farm and ensure the horses have a safe and secure place to live.

This farm may be new to our family, but we are deeply committed to both the welfare of our horses and the preservation of the land. Terry’s life has been devoted to horses, and the tradition is being carried on by his great-grandchild. We urge the council to take the time to reconsider the decision and work with us to find a fair and humane solution.

Please sign this petition to show your support for our family and the future of our farm. Together, we can ensure the well-being of Terry and the horses, and help protect a part of our community’s heritage.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Chloe Anthony 
Grass Croft Farm
Babbington Lane
Kimberley
NG16 2PT