Owner's anger at fine for horse tethered on verge

Rosemary Lowther, who did not want to show her face, stands next to the grass verge where her horse was tethered

The owner of a miniature pony has been fined £3,700 after it was found tethered on a roadside verge in Bradford.

Rosemary Lowther said the animal, called Little Man, was removed overnight without warning by contractors working for Bradford Council.

A council spokesman said PPS Impoundments, which it uses to tackle "illegal fly grazing" on council-owned land across the district, had given prior notice.

The spokesman said the contractor "always endeavours to issue Notices of Intent prior to any impoundment".

Mrs Lowther, from Tong, said her horse was taken late on Wednesday 30 October from a verge near her home where she had put it out to graze.

She said a laminated A4-sized impoundment notice was found taped to a metal fence the next morning with a contact email address on it.

The owner of Little Man said the animal had been tethered on the verge for weeks without any complaints

The 45-year-old said: "Generations have had horses there and we didn't realise it was illegally tethered because people were coming from the factory next door and were giving him water and carrots.

"If they'd said to us can you move him, we would have moved him.

"But nobody asked us to move him and that's why we didn't think we were breaking the law."

Mrs Lowther had to call on family and friends within the traveller community to help pay the fine.

She was reunited with her pet 10 days later on Friday at a pre-arranged handover outside Bradford Police Station.

Family friend Lesley Sandford, from Leeds, who helped Mrs Lowther secure the horse's return, said: "They've kept horses there for years and years, generations.

"Then all of sudden the council says they can't.

"Why didn't the council put up signs to give notice that it doesn't want this to happen any more?"

The impoundment notice which was found taped onto metal fence next to the grass verge

Mrs Sandford queried why the fine was so high and the wording, in one email, that said the animal would be "disposed of" if the fine was not paid by a certain deadline.

Bradford Council would not disclose how the charge had been set, but a spokesman said it would talk to the contractors about the wording in the email.

Animals were either rehomed or sold if a fine was not paid, he said.

The spokesman said: "The contractor always prioritises the safety of any animals involved, themselves, and members of the public and always endeavours to issue Notices of Intent prior to any impoundment.

"Animals left in public spaces can pose a danger to themselves and others, and impacts the space available for communities to use.

"Naturally this concerns residents who expect the council to act."

PPS Impoundments did not reply to a request for a comment.

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