COUNCILLORS went against the recommendations of their officers at a Licensing Committee meeting last Wednesday, and refused to grant a Riding Establishment Licence to Miss Tina Hodge of Forest Trekking, based at Court Farm in Bream.

The application to renew her licence was refused by the committee, who had the opportunity to visit and inspect the Court Farm premises last month.

The Committee refused to grant Hodge a licence on six specific grounds, including: 'Whether that person, (the applicant), appears to them (the Licensing Committee) to be suitable and qualified.'

Animal rights campaigners in the area were quick to applaud the decision, with one group, 'Forest of Dean Animal Rights', emailing to the Review: "We applaud the decision of the Forest of Dean District Council to deny convicted animal abuser Tina Hodge a licence to run her trekking business.

"Her continued trading was another stain on the Forest of Dean, that she will be no longer allowed to trade is a step in the right direction."

They added: "We have criticised the council when they have made a mistake, and we will continue to do so, but must also applaud them for this decision."

Although her application was supported by reports from a qualified veterinary practitioner, Miss Hodge had been convicted of neglecting two horses in

her care at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court earlier this year. The 47-year-old, who gives her address as Cullimore View, Ruspidge, faced a two-day trial last April, which resulted in a guilty verdict. The case had been brought by the RSPCA.

She was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £1,420 after it was proven that an injured horse in her care was not given any veterinary treatment, while a second animal, a pony called Lucky, had not received treatment for badly overgrown hooves - which were described as looking like 'Aladdin's slippers'. He was reported as having been confined to a stable for seven months, and had not been exercised.

Miss Hodge had to disclose her convictions on her re-application to the Licensing Committee for her Riding Establishment Licence to be renewed. Her previous licence expired in June.

Hodge's re-application to offer horses for riding at Court Farm last week was overshadowed by a public campaign against the council granting her a licence - a campaign that began soon after her convicion in April, and which included internet petitions gathering signatories, and a handbill which was distributed around the Forest.

The handbill read: "Horse neglect. Tina Hodge still continues running Forest Trekking from Court Farm, Bream - after conviction (she is) still in ownership of 35 badly kept horses. Stop this suffering. Support our campaign."

The re-application which has been refused, was for a total of eight, named, horses. The Licensing Committee reported that they had received five emails and two letters asking that Hodge's licence not be renewed, and one letter in support of the application.

Hodge has 21 days to appeal against the refusal to grant her a licence.