OBJECTIONS have been raised to the prospect of a state of the art equine rehabilitation and thoroughbred breeding centre at an unused Green Belt farm.

Liberty Equine Ltd has told planning officers at Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council it is seeking approval for the centre together with three caravans to provide facilities, administration and residential accommodation at Jackswood Farm on New Hey Lane in Willaston.

The former pig farm is set in open countryside, councillors are due to hear at a meeting of the borough's planning committee on Tuesday (November 12).

The centre would take up 1ha of land with the remaining 20ha to be used for grazing.

The development would include a horse walker, a 60m by 20m menage and the conversion of three agricultural timber clad buildings on the farm to provide 10 horse rehabilitation boxes, seven mare and foal boxes and two stallion boxes with an area for the storage of hay and equipment.

A lambing shelter is included in the application as sheep breeding and grazing would also take place, councillors are due to hear, although the sheep farming itself does not require planning permission.

Liberty Equine say the centre would specialise in the complete rehabilitation and fitness for all types of horses from race horses and competition horses to family ponies.

The breeding of thoroughbred racehorses would be a key part of the business which would focus on the thoroughbred and horse racing industry.

The company argues there is a need for a dwelling on the site to allow for a manager to provide round the clock attention and security.

It is intended that in the long term the business would provide three full time and one part time jobs and would be profitable by year three.

Wirral Wildlife believes the centre would be unsuitable development in the Green Belt largely due to the proposal for a residential caravan.

The conservationists believe this would lead to night time disturbance of wildlife and would set a precedent making it difficult to refuse a future application for a permanent dwelling.

Wirral Green Belt Council also objects, referring to the three temporary caravans as does Willaston Residents and Countryside Society on Green Belt grounds.

The society argues there is sufficient accommodation in the nearby village to meet the requirements to have staff on site 24 hours a day.

Councillors are due to hear an argument by an equine consultant that owners sending their horses “would undoubtedly expect there to be on site supervision” and that if this did not exist, they would probably not send their animals.

This could prevent the business succeeding.

Planning officers suggest the three caravans, together with the horse walker and menage, will not be particularly prominent from outside the site.

Vets for the company are said to be “adamant” there should be someone on site who can respond quickly to emergencies.

The need for the residential caravan “is not straightforward”, says a report.

Planning officers point out the belief the venture is unlikely to attract business unless there is living accommodation on the site but have suggested a three year approval covering the caravans.

The committee is to be asked to grant permission for the centre subject to conditions.

The meeting takes place at the Civic Offices in Ellesmere Port at 6.15pm.