“If they can do it in Vienna, we can do it in Aberystwyth, ” said Cllr Mark Strong in support of a proposal to change licensing policy to cover horse drawn carriages on the town’s promenade.

The “overwhelming majority” of public responses to the plan were against it members heard at Thursday’s (16 December) healthier communities overview and scrutiny committee.

A public consultation had been held on the proposal after an approach to Ceredigion County Council about operating a horse drawn carriage on the sea front but the current licensing policy did not cover it.

Amendments to the existing overarching policy to include licensing for horse drawn carriages and a by-law to regulate it, including specifying a route, were needed with 216 responses to the consultation.

Traffic flow and animal welfare were the main concerns, a report to committee states, and councillors also highlighted the need to ensure that the horses were well looked after.

Cllr Lyndon Lloyd said “if it’s good enough for the Queen, it’s good enough for the people of Aberystwyth” as others also highlighted the tourist attraction aspect of adding carriage rides to the Prom.

The committee agreed to recommend to cabinet that the proposed policy change is necessary to permit omnibuses in Aberystwyth and/or any other area of the county which necessities: a) adopting the new licensing conditions, and b) adopting a new by-law for the proposed to new designated route and/or any future proposed omnibus route to effectively enforce any breaches of those licensing conditions.”