A RIDING club for disabled children has been given a three-month deadline to leave its base as a fundraiser is set up to save the business. 

Ramblers Riding Club, in Eastwood Rise, Eastwood, is a family-friendly yard offering riding lessons and parties, as well as doing therapy work with disabled children and people with special educational needs. 

The owner of the land has been granted planning permission to build two homes, leaving staff at the riding club devastated. 

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Club owner Nikki Birth has launched a fundraiser to raise cash to build new stables. 

She said: “We knew it was coming, however it was still a shock. We have been preparing for months but it is a big project in a short amount of time.

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“We are positive people, and we’re determined to make this happen. We need to raise money quickly to start building the new stables for the ponies and homes for the animals, as we only have three months.”

Fortunately Nikki and the team already have a new home earmarked, and have been given planning permission to build new stables on land opposite the current site. 

She said: “The aim is to get the stables and the ménage fully functional by the end of May.

“The money raised through the Gofundme will be used for housing for the petting animals as these are used daily, and our current funds don’t cover this part of the project.

“We definitely don’t want to have to re-home any of our animals because of this.

“I hate having to ask for help as it is not me, but on this occasion, I don’t really have a choice.”

Nikki had nothing negative to say about her landowner, insisting they have always “been fair”. 

The landowner, who asked not to be named, said: “They have been given three months’ notice, but they were always aware it was coming and have known for a few months that the site was going to be approved for planning.

“I have let them know they are more than welcome to take everything they need from the current site and use it for their new site, which is my contribution to ensure they continue trading.”

To donate, visit https://gofund.me/76a03f33