Hackney carriage licence approved for Powys horse-drawn taxi

Almost a year ago, the Llandrindod Wells Town Horse Park opened at the Llanerch Inn, near the town’s old police station.

The first 21st century horse park, it was opened by the British Horse Society (BHS) in order to celebrate the start of King Charles III’s reign.

The idea came from Penny Nicholson, a Powys-based BHS access and rights of way volunteer, who had been searching for suitable venues.

The Llanerch, a popular and historical coaching inn which has been welcoming horses for hundreds of years, seemed the perfect fit.

Now, Penny has received her hackney carriage licence from Powys county Council. She and gypsy cob Ozzy are now able to offer a climate-friendly, slow travel alternative to local residents, with two county councillors her first fares last week.

“Penny picked up her first fares for a trip to the lake in Llandrindod,” the BHS Mid Wales said in a post on their Facebook page on August 22.

“Councillor Jackie Charlton and Councillor Corinna Keynon-Wade said they had an enjoyable experience and it was a lovely way to take a taxi.

“Best wishes to Ozzy the cob and Penny. Llandrindod is very lucky to have the original and best green active travel mode of transport. Keep trotting on.”

Funded and supported by the BHS, two corrals have been built among mature trees on private property at the Llanerch, which dates back to the 16th century.

All aboard: Penny picks up first customers, Councillor Jackie Charlton and Councillor Corinna Keynon-Wade Credit (Image: BHS Mid Wales)

Penny and fellow BHS member Helen Donnan were seen out and about in the spa town promoting sustainable equine travel with Ozzy back in May 2022, while Ozzy was also pulling his cart during the town’s Victorian Festival last August.

Once land was offered by the pub for the horse park, the BHS came forward with funding for its construction, which boasts two spacious corrals in the shade of tall trees, alongside the pub’s idyllic beer garden. 

The BHS believe this will become a flagship project and hope its early success will spread further afield, to offer a greener mode of transport, as well as highlight the increasing value of the horse in 21st century communities.

The horse park’s introduction supports Welsh Government proposals to make the country a walking and cycling nation.

Eleven key areas in Powys have been identified by lawmakers, with projects around Welshpool, Newtown, Brecon, Builth Wells, Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Knighton, Presteigne, Crickhowell, Llanfyllin and Llandrindod at various stages of completion.

In the next stage of the Llandrindod project, Penny plans to investigate local rights of way matters and produce a map to guide horse riders and drivers along quiet roads, bridleways and byways, to avoid the main roads in accessing Llandrindod town centre.

Guidance obliges councils to consult with horse-owners on active travel routes, where there is local equine interest. The BHS seeks to promote shared use of green and quiet routes by horse riders and drivers, alongside walkers and cyclists, and supports consultation and co-operation with local councils in the planning process.

Penny is an ardent advocate for the inclusion of equine transport in the active travel agenda, with the obvious health, well-being and climate benefits it brings. The only form of transport which runs largely on grass, it is a cheap or free and a quickly renewable fuel, and of course is in plentiful supply in Powys.

Penny’s suggestion – that horse parks would become a feature in smaller, rural towns – was even printed by The Guardian newspaper as part of a New Year’s Day 2022 feature asking for readers predictions for the year ahead.

Other predictions included Boris Johnson standing down as prime minister and Russia invading Ukraine.