July 2011
A group called "Riding in Haringey" is campaigning to have an equestrian centre built in Alexandra Park.
Gordon Hutchinson and Nick Bryant, of the Friends committee, met one of the group’s members, Lydia Rivlin, to find out what was being proposed. Lydia explained that the plan is just conceptual at present, as a commercial operator has not yet been identified. However the main elements of the proposal have been thought through.
The idea is to take over the Upper Field, sometimes referred to as the Football Field, which lies between the boating pond and the deer enclosure. In that area stables would be constructed for 30 to 40 horses, together with a barn to store feed, a tack room, toilets, staff facilities and four sand covered arenas where most of the riding would actually take place. There would be a track for riding round the perimeter of the Upper Field, but there would be no riding in the rest of the Park. An indication of how the Upper Field could be utilised by an Equestrian Centre can be seen in this map.
It is envisaged that the centre would provide riding lessons, livery for individuals who wanted to keep a horse at the centre, and opportunities for school children and disabled children and adults to experience riding. Horse boxes and feed delivery vehicles would have to access the field. Horse manure would have to be removed.
Clearly local horse riders would appreciate the opportunity to ride without travelling to the likes of Trent Park, Mill Hill and Arkley. Also riding for the disabled and children has many benefits. However, a development of this nature would destroy an open and peaceful area of the Park, and may not be acceptable within the Metropolitan Open Land and Conservation Area designations of the Park.
January 2012
We asked the members of the Friends of Alexandra Park, and the general public, for their views on the above proposal. The following is a summary of the responses we received:
In total 77 responses were received of which 41 were against the proposal, 24 were in favour of the proposal, and 12 were uncertain. However this was not a referendum, and it is the content of the responses which merits examination.
Most of those in favour of the equestrian centre simply noted that they would like to have riding in Alexandra Park, and did not address the feasibility of the proposal. The benefits of riding for children, for the disabled, and for autistic children were stressed. Some noted the benefit of not having to travel to existing riding schools such as those at Mill Hill or Trent Park, and others referred to the heritage of horse-racing in the Park.
Those against the proposal raised objections in two categories: broadly, the adverse impact on the Park and other Park users, and more specifically, deficiencies in the proposal.
General objections raised repeatedly included:
Loss of a level and peaceful area of the Park which is used for picnics and games.
Additional traffic (deliveries and horseboxes) in an area where there is currently no regular traffic access.
Pressure to use more of the Park for riding (and safety concerns if this was allowed).
Disturbance to Park users and those living near the Upper Field in terms of noise, smell and lighting.
Concern for the welfare of horses.
Unacceptable development of Metropolitan Open Land
Feasibility was questioned by those with knowledge of horse husbandry:
A large ‘turn out’ area would be needed in addition to the area proposed.
The area proposed is too small for the number of horses planned to be stabled.
The arenas are too small.
It is not wise to house horses adjacent to deer.
The centre would be unattractive to livery customers because there would be no opportunity for hacking, the facilities are restricted, and expensive vehicles would be needed to transport horses in and out because the Park is within the Low Emissions Zone.
There are a number of additional concerns about the feasibility of the proposal, but as the proposal was only said to be ‘conceptual’, they are not included above.
These views were summarised in a letter to the Park Manager, copied to the proposer, Lydia Rivlin
July 2012
The promoter of the idea of an equestrian centre in the Park, Lydia Rivlin, met the Chief Executive of the Alexandra Park and Palace Trust, Duncan Wilson. He agreed that horse riding had many benefits, but it was not a practical proposition in Alexandra Park and would not be considered further.