Lanark Equi Centre appeal falls at final hurdle

May 8 2008 By George Topp

AN award-winning riding centre boss has lost her appeal against eviction from council-owned stables at Lanark Racecourse.

Sheriff Officers served eviction notices on Maureen Taylor last Friday and South Lanarkshire Council are due to take formal possession of her stables tomorrow (Friday).

The council are planning to demolish the stables, which are in a state of disrepair.

The Advertiser can also reveal that the council are now planning further legal action against Mrs Taylor, this time for unpaid rent.

The stables have been at the centre of a long-running legal battle between the council and Lanark Equi Centre boss Mrs Taylor.

Mrs Taylor is tenant of the adjoining equestrian centre. It includes some stables and is the subject of a 30-year lease running from 1990.

According to the council, Mrs Taylor took over adjacent stables, not covered by her lease, in 2000. This was without council authority and without payment of rent.

The council say the disputed stables are in a state of disrepair, giving rise to health and safety concerns.

In 2006, the council started court proceedings against Mrs Taylor in a bid to recover possession of the stables. Proceedings were suspended for a while to try and negotiate a settlement, but when talks broke down the case returned to court.

Mrs Taylor argued in court that the council had granted her a lease in return for her carrying out repairs, although no lease contract existed or rental had ever been paid.

In November last year,  Sheriff Petra Collins, in a lengthy 36-page finding, found in favour of the council and granted decree for removal together with expenses.

That decision was appealed by Mrs Taylor and the matter was referred to the Sheriff Principal. Her appeal was dismissed in March this year.

A council spokesperson said this week that Sheriff Officers served notice on Mrs Taylor on May 2. The council would take repossession on May 9 and the property would be made secure.

The spokesperson added that an asbestos survey and demolition contract was being awarded and the site cleared.

The Advertiser understands demolition is likely to take place later this month.

Lanark Sheriff Court is now due to consider the question of how much Mrs Taylor will have to pay the council in legal expenses for the court case and appeal.

But Mrs Taylor, a well-known figure in Scottish equestrian circles, faces further action from South Lanarkshire Council.

A spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that: "The council are commencing a separate action for recovery of the rent that would have been payable if the council had been in possession of the stables and leasing them out."

Mrs Taylor would not comment on the council's actions, but emphasised that it was "business as usual" at the Scottish Equi Centre.

She already has legal tenancy of other council stables at the racecourse and they are not affected by the court’s decisions.

"This doesn't affect the running of my stables and it is very much business as usual," she said,  adding that business was "very busy."

Her centre is one of only two British Horse Society (BHS) exam centres in Scotland, has been awarded four-star status by VisitScotland.

Mrs Taylor has been presented with a BHS 25-year long service award for having a centre of excellence, one of only a handful of people to achieve that status.

Over the summer months they would have overseas guests from at least five countries at the centre she said, adding: "So what the council are doing will not affect the normal running of my business."