DIDO Harding and John Penrose are planning to turn what had been an orchard into a new riding arena at their North Somerset village home.

The former head of Test and Trace and her ex-local MP husband bought just over six acres of land near their home in Winscombe last year and removed 1.4 acres of orchards.

Now they have submitted plans to build a new all-weather riding arena and new barn on the land.

But locals have raised concerns about noise from the riding arena and that it will be in the way of cherished views. One nearby neighbour said: “It’s going to be about 10 metres from our property and 300 metres from theirs.”

Winscombe and Sandford Tree Wardens lodged a comment on North Somerset Council’s online planning portal, stating the applicants had “destroyed an ancient orchard by uprooting a large number of fruit trees” and called for replacement trees to be planted. A total of 17 people have lodged objections to the plans, with six people lodging comments in support.

A statement submitted with the application documents said that the 1.4 acres of orchards had been removed because they “were of poor quality and due to their age were no longer productive.” It added that the barn was located at the far end of the field as that was where it is flattest.

Most well known for her role heading Test and Trace during Covid-19, Ms Harding is a major horse racing enthusiast and her horse Cool Dawn won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1998. The statement said: “The applicant and their children have owned, ridden and re-homed ex-racehorses and ponies for some time.”

It said the proposals would allow them to keep up to six horses on site throughout the year. The riding arena will be 30 by 60 metres — more than double the size of a typical 20 by 40 metre riding arena. The statement said: “Due to the nature of the ex-racehorses trained by the applicant, a larger arena is necessary to provide adequate space for safe training.

The plans are expected to go before the council’s planning committee, after a request from local councillor Joe Tristram (Banwell and Winscombe, Green). Ms Harding sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Harding of Winscombe and her husband was, until this year’s general election, the local Conservative MP.

Their planning agent Jack Curnick-James said: “Like any other local resident, our clients had to apply for planning permission, which they’ve done in accordance with the guidelines. There are already several other similar horse arenas nearby which were approved recently without complication.

“We trust the local council’s planning committee has everything they need to make a reasonable and sensible decision in their upcoming meeting.”

The couple previously built a modern swimming pool in their garden next to Winscombe’s 15th century village church. The pool was meant to not be visible — but the planned grass roof was switched for a zinc feature over concerns it would be too shady for grass to grow.