AN EQUESTRIAN entrepreneur has threatened to move his £4m Peckforton-based horse racing stables to North Wales after accusing the local authority of putting his venture in jeopardy.

Rob Lloyd, owner of Rob Lloyd Racing Ltd, is concerned delays in considering his application for a gallop will have a critical impact upon his business.

The company applied for planning permission, which was granted in February, to change the use of Haycroft Farm to an equestrian centre with the construction of an all-weather gallop.

The company started to construct the gallop before planning consent and Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council issued enforcement action to stop the work pending the outcome of an ecological survey.

But Rob Lloyd feels aggrieved the authority sought to stop horses from exercising on the partially completed track and has appealed against the notice, claiming that without this facility his establishment is not viable.

The application will be brought before committee this month but Mr Lloyd has called on the council to exercise discretion and “allow the use of the gallop to continue in the intervening period”.

Mr Lloyd explained: “The council has also issued a stop notice to prevent any more work taking place on the gallop which means we can’t use it while we try to find a way of addressing the council’s concerns.

“However, the council is aware we are currently doing everything by the book. As soon as planning permission is granted our ecologist will obtain a licence from Natural England that will allow us to do everything necessary to protect wildlife before work to complete the gallop is undertaken.

“I have invested £4m in this project, brought a high-profile business to the county and made a significant contribution to the rural economy by creating more than 20 well-paid jobs.

“A gallop is essential to a business that trains racehorses and without a gallop there is no business and if there’s no business, these 20 jobs will be lost.”