Polo club gets all-weather site plan approval

James Reeve of Leadenham Polo Club successfully secured permission from the district council planning committee when they met ‘virtually’ last Tuesday, to site an all-weather polo arena, convert old farm buildings into stables, erect new fencing, landscaping, floodlighting and a new car parking area at North Hilltop Farm at Leadenham Heath.

The main concerns from villagers had been the effect on the landscape with floodlighting possibly overlooking Leadenham village below (although lighting hours would be limited) and the potential effects of conversion of the old buildings, which were said to have some heritage interest dating back to 1865.

Mr Reeve insisted the project is designed to make the existing business, currently based around the grass polo field on the edge of the village, more sustainable during the winter months, instead of being merely seasonal, therefore securing full-time jobs, supporting the local economy and tradespeople due to visiting wealthy business people as well as families for midweek breaks.

He said the current grass arena would still be used in summer but is prone to waterlogging and ice in the winter, making it unsuitable for training. He said the new site was perfect, reusing old farm buildings, saying that conservation concerns about potential harm to the buildings by conversion were based on assumption.

He added that he had a lot of letters of support from leading figures in RAF polo.

Stephen Catney, speaking on behalf of the Nelstrop family who run the neighbouring farm, claimed the application threatened their livelihoods due to conflicts between polo club visitors and a working farm and shared access.

He said they had only stopped using the buildings due to lack of maintenance and claimed they would have to be significantly altered to allow headroom for polo ponies.

Ward councillor Lucil-le Hagues said the scheme should be nearer the village. The parish council was totally opposed to it in its current form, asking for a full heritage survey.

However, leader of the council Richard Wright proposed approval after it was confirmed the applicants would be within their rights to knock down the buildings. He said: “Bringing things back into use would do more than letting them disappear completely.

“If any further work was needed they would have to come back for further permissions. We need to create jobs and tourism in our villages.”