A mobile home for staff at a new stables on the Dengie has been approved after councillors said it was “vital” in light of a tragic fire which saw 12 horses perish.

Plans were approved to install a new mobile home at Asheldham Hall Farm in Hall Road, to care for the horses in five new stables on the site.

The developer stated there was a need for a presence on the farm at all times, following the tragic fire at Elmwood Equestrian Centre which took the lives of a dozen horses in December 2017.

Speaking at the meeting, the developers said: “The current application has changed since the previous one.

“The parish council continue to support the proposal and there has been no objections from any groups.

“The mobile home is vital for the livery business, it is the rural workers’ livelihood and they wish to give ultimate care to the horses.

“They have already experienced documented illnesses in the horses and this has made the proposal more vital.

“The tragic fire at Elmwood Equestrian Centre makes it all the more important that there is someone on site at all times.”

Under the plans, “24-hour surveillance” will be in place to protect the 19 horses which will be kept at the stables.

Peter Elliott, councillor for Burnham South, championed the now approved plans to place a mobile home unit at the site.

The farm currently uses the site as a livery business.

He added the officers’ recommendation for refusal shows a ‘serious hole’ in the council’s local development plan.

The approved plans will see the applicants given three years of temporary permission and the business will be reviewed after that time.

Adrian Fluker, vice-chairman of the council’s planning committee added: “Everybody knows that animal welfare is hugely important.

“We want to see this business succeed and do well.

“During three years we will be able to look at the business and maybe give it more time but I believe the officers’ recommendation is correct.”