Funding in place to build disabled riding centre

Posted by Simon Honeysett on Aug 20, 08 03:30 PM in News

A funding package is in place to allow a £1.2m riding centre for the disabled to be built in the heart of Northumberland.

The Pegasus Centre for Excellence in Disabled Riding, planned for the woodland hamlet of Tranwell near Morpeth, aims to tackle a shortage of facilities for disabled horse riders and help unearth equestrian stars of the future.

The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Castle Morpeth Borough Council have been working together on the ambitious project for well over a year and have managed to secure the funding needed to make the dream a reality.

Now councillors have agreed to seek other partner organisations interested in getting involved alongside RDA in the day-to-day running and management of the centre after it is built.

An application for planning permission for the centre has been submitted to the council and a decision is expected in the next couple of months, paving the way for construction work to begin.

The Pegasus Centre will offer therapy and riding experiences for up to 200 children and adults with disabilities every year, and aims to become a nationally-recognised centre of excellence.

Plans include outdoor and indoor riding arenas, fully equipped with special mounting apparatus and disabled- friendly riding surfaces. There would also be adequate lighting and sound to cater for a range of disabilities.

There will be an on-site physiotherapist and the centre will provide educational training courses in horse care as well as therapeutic riding experiences.

Castle Morpeth Council's executive board has now authorised officers to approach other potential partners in running the venture.

Yesterday the council could not say when it is hoped to start construction work.

Chief executive Ken Dunbar said: "The capital funding to deliver a state-of-the-art riding centre in the shape of the Pegasus Centre is now in place. We continue to work with RDA to deliver a sustainable package to take the Pegasus Centre beyond the life of this council, which ceases to exist in April 2009.

"Part of our risk assessment is to consider with partners all options for providing that sustainable future, which will enable this borough to potentially support the Olympians and Paralympians of the future."

RDA say the centre will address a shortage of riding facilities for disabled people in Northumberland, which has led to some having to be turned away for help which would clearly benefit them.

The Pegasus Centre for Excellence aims to help unearth equestrian stars of the future.

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