CONCERN has been raised over what appears to be a possible change of policy by Thurrock Council in dealing with a threat to the health of horses grazing on flooded land in the borough.

For many years, the sight of bedraggled horses struggling to cope with living of waterlogged meadows alongside the Mar Dyke River in Thurrock, has worried animal lovers.

Several years ago the council seized the initiative by stating that a ban would be imposed on horses grazing in the adjacent river valley, much of it owned by the council, between November and March.

It came about after, in 2013, a number of organisations and individuals including councillors, Police, the Wildlife Trust, Remus Horse Sanctury, residents and then council chief executive Graham Farrant walked the Mar Dyke Valley and came up with a plan of action.

However, in the wake of recent sightings of horses once again struggling in flooded grassland in the area the council was contacted by concerned resident and Aveley community activist Teresa Webster but she says they are now moving the goalposts and has accused the authority of abdicating its responsibility and a duty of care.

She complained to chief executive Lyn Carpenter, who responded by saying she had "forwarded the message to the council's complaints email address so that it can be properly appointed to the right officer".

That resulted in a response to Mrs Webster which read: "This is an annual occurrence – despite the council having some land ownership in the area we do not own all – if residents wish to check on land ownership records they can do so via land registry – our tenant has informed that presently there are no horses in his ownership on any of the Council's ownership. Regular inspections are undertaken.

"If it is a concern for residents they should take a photograph and location of the animal and check whether it is indeed in council ownership."

Mrs Webster says: "The council said five years ago that there would be no animals on the Mar Dyke in wet conditions. Now they appear to be trying to dodge the issue by raising issues of ownership of land. The horses don't know where the boundaries are as they struggle in dreadful conditions."

The Remus Horse Sanctuary has said: "These horses have the potential to be at risk again and need our help and protection. If the land floods again, yet more horses will die needlessly."