The Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee considered an application for a stable block and storage barn for six horses in a field currently used for grazing. Planning officer Andrew Jones stated that the field is in agricultural use, as there was at least one horse grazing on site. However, a change of use planning application would be required for facilities such as a riding area.

Local councillor Fay Bromfield expressed her opposition to the application, believing it to be at odds with council and national policies. She argued that horses are only considered to be in agricultural use if they are not given supplementary feed, reared for meat, or used for working the land. However, another councillor, Maureen Powell, disagreed and stated that horses have always been a part of agriculture, whether used for working the land or riding.

Despite objections from local residents regarding concerns about manure management and potential environmental impacts, the committee ultimately approved the application with additional conditions. These conditions included the production of a waste management plan for manure and a detailed scheme of ecological enhancements before development could take place. The application was approved by ten councillors, with three voting against and two abstaining.