Mystery surrounds claims that the Army has expressed an interest in taking over the Olympic legacy equestrian centre in Shooters Hill.
The Greenwich Wire has been told by a Greenwich Labour source that the military would like a long lease on the site, close to the Bexley border, to provide additional exercise space for its horses. The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, a ceremonial unit which plays a key role in state occasions, is based nearby in Woolwich.
The source alleges that Anthony Okereke, the council leader, has not responded to a request from figures in the military.
Matt Hartley, the opposition Conservative leader, raised the question of a possible deal with the military at last week’s full council meeting, but the question was closed down by Linda Bird, the Labour ceremonial mayor, because of the Shooters Hill by-election, which was held the following day. Before Bird intervened, Okereke said he would “have to take that back and investigate”.
Plans by the Labour-run council to sell the equestrian centre were among the issues in the Shooters Hill by-election last week, which was won by the Green Party. The election was called after Labour threatened to suspend the previous councillor, Ivis Williams, for supporting residents who were angry about the sale. Williams resigned and endorsed Tamasin Rhymes, the Green candidate.
The King’s Troop, which moved to Woolwich in 2012 and is due to stay at Napier Lines when the rest of the barracks closes, regularly takes its horses out to exercise on local streets. But there have been some complaints from residents about the disruption caused, particularly in narrow streets on Shooters Hill, with some saying their cars had been damaged.
In summer 2012, when Woolwich Common was used for the Olympics and Paralympics, the troop used Charlton Park for exercises. That arrangement lasted beyond the Games until 2017, when a soldier broke her neck trying to stop runaway horses and a gun carriage.
“The Army needs more room for training and space for horses to gallop,” the source said. “But they’re not getting any response from the leader.”
The equestrian centre was a pet project of the council’s former leader, Chris Roberts, in the wake of Greenwich Park hosting equestrian events in 2012. It was opened by Princess Anne the following year, and was operated by Kent-based Hadlow College as an equestrian skills centre. It also offered riding courses for local people.
When the centre opened the council boasted that it had state-of-the-art facilities, fully-fitted stables, a bath for horses and a field at the back to exercise in. But after Hadlow College went bust in 2019 the centre passed to North Kent College, which was less enthusiastic about it and pulled out last summer.
Greenwich Council then rushed through plans to put it on the market, despite two petitions against the scheme, which were ridiculed by the unsuccessful Labour by-election candidate, Jummy Dawodu, in a letter to residents. She described the once-flagship centre as “empty stables”.
Okereke has raised the prospect of flats being built on the site, part of which is metropolitan open land – the inner-London equivalent of the Green Belt – and bordered by a working farm. It last came under threat in the 1980s, when Margaret Thatcher’s government wanted to push a dual carriageway through the site.
Woodlands Farm, whose land surrounds the equestrian centre, has raised fears that any development would disrupt its own community activities, while former equestrian centre users called for the council to hand the centre over to them to keep in use.
“If the Army are interested in using the equestrian centre for the King’s Troop, that could be one component of a solution that keeps the centre in use for the community,” Hartley told The Greenwich Wire.
“The council should be biting their arm off if there’s even a chance this could work. Instead of rushing to sell, Labour should be working to protect what was promised to the borough as part of our Olympic legacy.
“We need answers on what correspondence has taken place, before Labour pushes ahead with its sell-off of this vital community asset.”
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation, which manages the Army estate, said it had no record of a request. The Army has not responded to a request for comment.
A council spokesperson said it could find no record of correspondence but added: “We wouldn’t rule out future discussions if it is in the best interests of residents.”
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