Longwood Equestrian - please see message below from one of our members:
I am a livery at Longwood Equestrian Centre in Basildon and next to Longwood there are a vast network of bridleways and a nature reserve which i am sure you are aware, as this features as one of your recommended bridleways in your website.
It has recently been brought to our attention that the Council wish to knock down Longwood Equestrian centre and build 850 homes in its place and a school next year. This is such a shame as longwood is a competetion yard, an approved riding school and a livery centre.If these plans go ahead then it will ultimately make 60 horses homeless and as there are not enough vacant stable spaces in the surrounding areas. We are of course putting up a fight to keep Longwood.
However, we are seeking your help with this, we feel that by closing longwood it will ultimately effect the amount of horses which are using the bridleways, as i have been told that these bridlepaths were predominantly installed using tax payers money, to cater for Longwood's equine capicity. If this work goes ahead as early as next year the council wish to make the country lane known as Dry street which cuts through the main bridleways, into a dual carriageway; this will be dangerous for only local riders but riders whom visit to enjoy the countryside. The roa