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To: Fiona Hyslop MSP

Save Houston Farm Riding School

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge the council to make Houston Farm exempt from Business Rates or the current Business Rate increase of 53% should be reviewed and reduced.

Why is this important?

Houston Farm provides riding lessons and for all ages, including special needs and disabled children, many of whom have ridden with the Comries for years and very much treat the riding school as a second home. The Comries have provided a safe haven for many Adults and children where the horses have helped provide personal challenges, develop responsibilities and support in times of hardship such as bereavement. The Comries have provided work experience to Oatridge college students and equine experience for the many children and adult helpers. The Comries run regular Pony Clubs, fairs and Ceilidh’s and other fund raising activities to support the retired horses and other charities such as Red Nose Day and is very much more than just a business. Houston Farm cannot be allowed to close, it is too important and provides so much benefit to so many people, of which many are local.

Houston Farm Riding School

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Updates

2017-05-28 07:52:08 +0100

We would like to thank everyone so very much for all of their amazing support to Houston, its horses and ourselves in our fight against the Rates increase.
We have had confirmation that while our Rates have increased, they are below the level that would have meant it was difficult to continue to run. This means that we can continue to operate as we have been doing and allows us to concentrate on looking at ways to support our retired horses.
Once again a huge thank you to you all for your petition signatures (over 3,400 including paper petitions), letters of support (approx 80 letters), help and time given to us in getting this result. It has meant so much.

2017-03-31 08:37:43 +0100

1,000 signatures reached

2017-03-30 23:09:06 +0100

500 signatures reached

2017-03-30 22:00:10 +0100

100 signatures reached

2017-03-30 21:44:06 +0100

50 signatures reached

2017-03-30 21:33:18 +0100

25 signatures reached

2017-03-30 21:25:56 +0100

10 signatures reached