Stray horses dangers to be tackled in talks

Problems with stray horses causing a nuisance on roads and open spaces in the Black Country will come under the spotlight during talks aimed at thrashing out a solution.

Tomorrow's meeting comes days after a horse wandered onto the road causing an accident. One of the main trouble spots is the Fens Pool area of Pensnett where residents and councillors have raised concerns about who is responsible for care of the animals.

Police say a car hitting a horse in Pensnett High Sfeet hion Monday highlighted how important it was.

Inspector Simon Bradbury will be at the meeting which was planned before the latest incident.

He said: "We get quite a few complaints and the issue is one which should not be swept under the carpet.

"From a police perspective I want to know what my officers can do when called to deal with a stray horse as it is unclear.

"Officers are not trained to deal with stray horses so there are health and safety issues if they intervene.

"There are also concerns around risk of injury to the public. We are looking at working with the council and other partners to see how best we can move forward on this."

Horses were seen grazing on grass verges near the accident and emergency department at Russells Hall Hopsital, Dudley, last year.

Last week three horses were grazed on playing fields at Brook Primary School, Wordsley.

Dudley Council says notices are regularly placed at sites where horses are illegally grazing advising owners that horses will be impounded if not removed.

It has resulted in a reduction horses left to graze illegally over the past 10 years.

A clampdown on illegal grazing, introduced last year after talks between Dudley Council and the RSPCA, had been hailed a success but Pensnett councillors said the crash this week showed no adequate solution had been found.

The horse had cuts and a leg injury. The driver, a woman in her 20s, was badly shaken but uninjured.