Police order moorings ceasefire

WHEN a local equestrian centre started to erect a fence inside the existing fence of the moorings at Slapton below Linslade on the Grand Union Canal, the moorers were up-in-arms, with the dispute turning nasty.

The moorers called in Canal & River Trust as the posts for the new fence were cutting off half of their space, but it was claimed that the farm on which Bury Farm Equestrian Centre was operating, owned the land right up to the water edge, it being on the off-side, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Turned nasty

But as the land owner continued putting in the posts, it all turned nasty as the moorers were loosing the space they had enjoyed for years. Picture by Leighton Buzzard Observer.

The result of the new fence was that they were being left with only half the width as previously, with the dispute getting to such a pitch that the police were called in, allegedly giving an order to 'ceasefire' and the erection of the fence to be stopped.

At a standstill

So all is at a standstill whilst the Trust investigate the matter, with a spokesman for the equestrian centre stating that there is no dispute as the Land Registry deeds show the land up to the waters edge as part of the farm, but as part of its agreement with Canal & River Trust had gifted the one and a half metres to the Trust for use of the moorers, and started building the fence.

At the moment the Trust has asked that work be halted until it can legally define the situation.