Wellingborough horse owners warned to leave public land
Owners who graze their horses on public land in a Northamptonshire town have been given seven days to remove them.
Wellingborough Council has issued an ultimatum that any horses on the land after the weekend would be removed.
Graham Lawman from the council said residents had complained about horses roaming local streets, damaging property and frightening children.
Resident Jim Davie said he believed the borough council had more important things to worry about.
The council said that notices had been served in areas of council-owned land in the Hemmingwell and Redwell wards to advise horse owners they have seven days to remove the horses or council contractors will be called in.
"We hope this will have the desired effect and the horses will be removed. If not, a specialist contractor will remove and stable the horses," a council spokesman said.
"Seized horses will be returned to their owners on payment of a fee covering the costs incurred by the council."
Powers were granted to the council to remove horses in May.
"If a horse is not claimed it may be sold at market or by public auction, or found a new home," the spokesman said.
"The preferred option would be placement with an accredited welfare organisation or a private individual who has been vetted.
"Sale at market or by auction would only be considered if the horse hasn't been rehomed within a reasonable amount of time.
"It is not proposed to use euthanasia, unless the horse was very sick or seriously injured - and that decision would only be made by a vet, not the council or its contractor."