Riding school evicted

RIDING school pupils and horse owners have been devastated by the eviction of the school from stables following a dispute with the landlord.

Thirty horses were released into fields around the stables when bailiffs moved in to evict tenant Fran Ivory. The first their owners knew of it was when Mrs Ivory telephoned on a Friday evening and asked them to help round up their animals.

Mrs Ivory, who had been at the stables for four years, told the Express she had no idea she was to be evicted; there had been a dispute about the electrics but no warning about the events of that night. The first she knew of it was when she was told one of the horses had been seen out.

Landlord Major Richard Goulden said money was outstanding on the premises including business tax, insurance and water bills, and the eviction, when Mrs Ivory's lease ran out, followed repeated written requests for meetings to negotiate a new lease.

Mrs Ivory said in a statement drawn up with her solicitor: 'I am still traumatised by what occurred at Horam Manor stables during the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. I have sought advice from my new solicitors as my previous solicitors were unable to help me when events occurred. I am now considering what further legal steps to take in particular against Major Goulden and his bailiff who appear to me to have acted unlawfully when evicting myself, my liveries and our animals from the premises known as Horam Manor Riding Stables which Major Goulden previously let to me. It was just like a scene from a 19th Century drama.'

Major Goulden said he had no choice but to act and new tenants had been standing by to take over the liveries if the owners had wished.

About 30 people involved with the stables took a meeting of Horam Parish Council by surprise last week to complain about the actions of Major Goulden who is a member of the council.

Mrs Rebecca Lloyd-Stubbs, 30, who attended the riding school as a child and whose daughter Amy has also had lessons, read a statement claiming the closure would lead to loss of business for local shops, loss of recreational activities and the help and support from Mrs Ivory for children and young people.

She also claimed that Major Goulden's actions were not in keeping with the 'acceptable level of conduct' expected from a parish councillor.

Mrs Lloyd-Stubbs handed over copies of letters and statements from children and adults distressed by events at the stables.

Clerk Mrs Fiona Banfield said councillors were deeply upset about the closure of the school because of the effect it would have on the community and following the complaint the council was taking advice from the Sussex Association of Local Councils on whether Major Goulden had acted illegally or unethically.

If he had he would be asked to stand down as a councillor until the matter was resolved. If it was a civil dispute and he had not done anything illegal or unethical then the council would not be in a position to ask him to stand down.