By Deborah Hardiman

Copyright expressandstar

The trust bearing former horse breeder Sheena Hamilton’s name has applied to renew planning permission to convert a derelict stable block and barn in Himley off the A449 into a five-bedroom residential property including elevation changes, a new wall, gates and a new access onto Stourbridge Road. The 81-year-old who once ran a stables enterprise at the site near Wombourne unveiled her dream to create a pioneering respite centre after the latest application for a self-build attracted online criticism.

She said future plans for the Sheena Hamilton New Age Educational Trust is to create a series of learning and therapy gardens on the land as part of the initiative, which will be linked with a new children’s book being written to help generate income for the charity along with grant bids.

“The current planning application for The Demesne is actually the third renewal of the it and doesn’t mention the respite idea as that’s in the early stages. The block was originally a cow barn. Since then the premises has been a horse racing yard and then boarding stables for racing horses which provided placements for the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) in the 1980s. I’m a geneticist too and from my experience and from running the stables I came to realise that you need to work with children from an early age to inspire them.

“I’d love the property to eventually be used as respite accommodation perhaps for under-privileged children who are struggling with their mental health. That is my dream.

“I have trustees helping me and among them is a lady whose daughter has a rare condition which meant she could not respond to anything other than musical instruments such as chimes and xylophones. She is now aged in her 30s and doing well. Her mother has wealth of experience, so we have people on board who understand what is required for the project like this.

“I have always wanted to set up a facility for the disadvantaged.”

The vision is for the future charity to use nature as a teaching tool to aid emotional and social development. There are plans for special gardens covering themes including music and featuring equipment that respond to wind and touch; grief, sensory, and a picnic area.

In 1996 the barn was wrecked in a blaze believed to have been caused by lightning which resulted in £6,000 worth of hay go up in smoke. This fire happened shortly after she and former husband Paul Burcher moved the former Trailblaze horse stud business from Blakedown near Kidderminster to the family’s 60-acre estate at Himley Park.

The house plan application 25/00397/FUL is due to be decided by South Staffordshire Council.

*You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks by visiting website publicnoticeportal.uk