WITH reference to the various letters regarding the proposed wedding venue at Grenofen. My wife and I walk our dog along the river at least once or twice a week and I have to say that we have encountered horse riders on only three or four occasions in the last few months.

Whatever the pros or cons of the application I feel that there has been considerable pressure brought to bear not only on the owner but also those dealing with the application in the form of notices pinned to trees around the car park inviting people to email their opposition and placard waving protesters at the council offices.

It has been suggested by riders that the noise would scare the horses — the actual venue is about 25 yards from the footpath and covered by a large marquee-type awning and it seems to me that if music is likely to frighten the horses then one does wonder what they would be like when a car or motorcycle passes them at a much closer range.

One of your correspondents states that she had to wait while around 20 cars used the road. As one would be unlucky to meet that many cars in the course of a whole day during midweek, one can only surmise that they were there for the benefit of the site inspectors — as were all the horse riders parading up and down the footpath in a further attempt to influence their decision.

As for the suggestion by a correspondent about using the old Focus site: would you want your wedding reception to be held on an industrial estate?

So, yes, you may have won your case for the moment, but the whole episode leaves rather a bad taste regarding the unpleasant tactics used to secure the victory and I hope the inspectors take this into account should the owner lodge an appeal.

Paul Mercer

Peter Tavy