Horse grazing ban broken
Horses are back grazing on open land across parts of the Black Country despite being banned over complaints that the animals had attacked passers-by and were being abused by local children. Horses are back grazing on open land across parts of the Black Country despite being banned over complaints that the animals had attacked passers-by and were being abused by local children. Council chiefs are aware of the animals' re-emergence and say they are monitoring the situation. Sandwell's environment cabinet member Bob Badham said: "There is no perfect answer to this problem." The familiar sight of tethered horses on public land has been part of the region's landscape for decades, leading to comparisons with the US Wild West. But a series of incidents, mainly in Sandwell and Dudley, led to the introduction of measures to bring the animals under control. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Council chiefs are aware of the animals' re-emergence and say they are monitoring the situation. Sandwell's environment cabinet member Bob Badham said: "There is no perfect answer to this problem."
The familiar sight of tethered horses on public land has been part of the region's landscape for decades, leading to comparisons with the US Wild West.
But a series of incidents, mainly in Sandwell and Dudley, led to the introduction of measures to bring the animals under control.
Sandwell brought in controversial new by-laws barring the estimated 80 horses from grazing on council-owned property, with Tipton worst hit.
But the move was unpopular with many and Councillor Badham claimed to receive abusive telephone calls following the ban.
Dudley councillors compromised, allotting specific land for the grazing of horses, but the animals regularly break loose and wander into the road or other land.
In February last year a stray horse was killed when it wandered into the road in Kingswinford and was hit by a car.
A month before, three stray horses were reported rummaging in bins behind the Crestwood pub, in Kingswinford, and up to a dozen were spotted roaming around the car park at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley.
Horses are occasionally spotted grazing on public land in Walsall, but so far without incident. Sandwell and Dudley both employ bailiffs to remove troublesome animals to a horse pound.
Horses were spotted on public land behind Tipton Sports Academy yesterday. Tipton resident Kevin Dodd, aged 42, said: "It's getting blatant. One horse was tethered right beside Gospel Oak Road this week."
Billy Wilson, from Tettenhall Horse Sanctuary, said: "Being tethered is a terrible life for a horse and extremely lonely."
