The "Horsification" of Mill Mound Fields
Mill Mound Fields, the much-loved open land below Theydon Grove near Kendall and Hartland, is facing a new kind of threat. Developers own the fields, and they have now won an appeal at the Planning Inspectorate allowing horses to be kept there.
To many residents this looks less like a plan for horses and more like a way of keeping the public off land that local people have enjoyed for generations. The fields are also home to badgers, and the Epping Society has long argued that this land should stay open and protected.
The Society has been active on several fronts. We have worked with the district council's tree officer to get changes made to tree-work applications on the site. An application to list the fields as an Asset of Community Value was refused, but the case for protecting them hasn't gone away.
After the appeal decision, we raised the matter with our MP, Dr Neil Hudson. He replied:
"I very much share your valid concerns on many levels, not least on equine welfare and on public and animal safety grounds. In light of this, I have written to the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate to ask that this is reconsidered."
We're grateful for his support. However, the Inspectorate has made clear that it cannot change or revoke its own decision. Only the High Court can overturn it.
That leaves important questions. Who will make sure any horses on the fields are properly cared for? How will public safety be protected next to homes and footpaths? And what does this mean for the long-term future of the land? The Society is concerned that "horsification" could become a stepping stone towards development by another route.
What you can do?
Keep an eye on the fields and let us know what you see. If you have concerns about the welfare of horses kept there, report them to the RSPCA or the district council. You can also write to Dr Neil Hudson MP to back his call for the decision to be looked at again.
The Epping Society will keep following this closely and will post updates here.
The appeal references are EFDC AP-13656 and Inspectorate code 6008989.
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