RIDING school owners fear they might have to close and sell their animals because of noise from a new rail link.

Wendlebury Gate Stables owner Hazel Offord said noise from the planned East-West rail link could interrupt classes and frighten horses.

The project will rebuild the line between Oxford and Bicester and connect it to Bedford from August next year.

Ms Offord said surveys show a planned noise reduction barrier would have to be at a “fair” or “good” standard.

But Network Rail says none of the barriers it has investigated meet the requirements of the 25-year-old business.

A petition, set up on the Government’s petitions website for an “adequate” barrier, has attracted more than 500 signatures.

Ms Offord, 45, said: “If we don’t get the barrier, people will not be able to hear, and that is pretty important when you are teaching them to ride.

“It is exceptionally stressful. We feel we are being left in the dark. The hardest part is the lack of communication.”

Work has started to lay the tracks by the school – around 100m away – which has 36 horses and gives 4,000 lessons a year.

Oxford Mail:

Hazel and father John Offord

Ms Offord’s father John, a co-owner of the business, said: “The noise from high speed trains running along our boundary is predicted to drown out communication between instructor and rider making it unsafe to continue as a riding school. Even if we did not close, our licencing authority would force us to.”

The next closest riding school is in Turpins Lodge, Hook Norton, 22 miles away.

Mr Offord added: “The stable employs 15 people who will be put out of work.”

Network Rail spokeswoman Victoria Bradley said: “We have investigated all the options available to us for installing a sound barrier near to Wentlebury Gate Stables.

“While none of these options has received a ‘fair’ rating, we will continue to work with the owners to mitigate any increase in noise levels.

“We are confident this can be achieved and that the business can continue to operate safely.”

The petition is at epetitions.

direct.gov.uk/petitions/68162

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