Locked gate pony mystery

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Have you heard the dulcet tones of a donkey eee awww drifting across the town?  This is the happy greeting of Donny the donkey who lives in West Undercliff with his friends Tommy the pony and Spirit the mule.

Access to the paddock is via padlocked double gates off the B2089 Udimore Road.  This entrance also enables access to the Southern Water pump house which is just before the beginning of the Undercliff bridle path.  The Undercliff Pony Rescue paddock is located opposite the pump house. Sharon Baker, owner of Undercliff Pony Rescue, rents the West Undercliff paddock from Rother District Council.

All has worked quite happily and without problems for the last three years until last weekend when, suddenly and without warning, a new padlock was fitted to the main gate.  This has meant the ponies are effectively trapped and their daily necessities cannot easily be taken to them.

Without access in a vehicle to deliver daily water, hay and feedstuff to the rescued animals Sharon has had to carry these heavy items about 150 yards at least once a day.  This is not only distressing for Sharon but also additional risk to the animals who at any time may need emergency attention.  The locked gate traps them in the paddock as they can’t be taken out in their horsebox as the access to Udimore Road is blocked.

There is an alternative access route to the paddock adjacent to the southern water track.  This is a narrow grass track.   It is not clear whether this access is public or not.  However problems for Sharon were made worse when the gate at the end of this access track, directly opposite the paddock, was also padlocked.

Sharon Baker with Donny

Sharon, a retired nurse, funds her pony rescue privately.  Sharon has twelve rescue ponies in total and following successful appeal by Rye News in June 2019 was given new grazing in a bigger pasture where the other ponies now live.  Only three of the rescues now live in the West Undercliff paddock.

Rye News visited the paddock this week and spoke to two residents of the properties nearby.  Apparently residents enjoy the presence of Donny and the ponies as they are delightful to many visitors especially children.  No-one seems to know why or who fitted the extra lock.

Sharon has made very many emergency calls to Rother District Council and Southern Water in an attempt to resolve access problems.  She expressed her frustration at the difficulty she has had in getting an adequate response to this urgent situation. However, in response to an email Rother District Council have promised to research the land registry and clarify rights of way access.

Sharon says that Southern Water, despite repeated broken promises and failure to return her phone calls, persistently fails to respond to requests for help.  At present Sharon is making several calls per day in the hope of finding a solution.  She is considering making a public protest.

If you would like to support Undercliff Pony Rescue’s care for the animals donations can be made here.

Image Credits: Mags Ivatts .

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1 COMMENT

  1. When we lived in Udimore Road our garden dropped down to the Southern Water access road and we had a garage opening onto it. The gates at the end were always padlocked but residents like ourselves could pay for access and were provided with a key. Sharon might like to inquire from any of the present Udimore Road residents (up to about number 94 or 96) if they have a key she could borrow. Saying that, it has been known for Southern Water to change the padlock and neglect to distribute new keys to the people entitled to them.

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