Craven College equestrian centre plans on hold (From Craven Herald)

Craven College equestrian centre plans on hold

8:00am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

New eco-friendly equestrian facilities at Craven College have been put on ice.

Approval for American-style barn stabling, an outdoor arena and a rural community study centre was given by Craven District Council in February last year.

The project would have seen the conversion of an existing barn next to the canal at Skipton’s Craven Auction Mart site to a study centre. The American-style, open plan stabling, would have been built on a field backing onto Broughton Grove, along with an outdoor training arena.

The facilities, the brainchild of the college’s then environment, energy and sustainable development officer, Ann Harding, would have replaced the college’s existing equestrian centre, within the auction mart.

The college also claimed they were needed as the existing facilities were conflicting with the mart’s main business and there were potential safety issues. But the scheme has been put on hold in favour of improvements to the more popular catering, hospitality and hair and beauty departments.

A college spokeswoman said: “Over the last couple of years the college has considered several possible developments which have then been assessed in light of priorities for our students and available funding. The scheme was not progressed as it was felt that other developments, such as the college’s refurbishment of its High Street building to house new catering, hospitality and hair and beauty facilities, would ultimately benefit a greater number of our students.”

She added: “Although not entirely ruled out, the college does not currently plan to proceed with further development of its existing equestrian facilities.”