HORSES will no longer be allowed to graze Castle Meadows, Abergavenny, after community leaders ruled they are a danger to people.

The debate at Monmouthshire's cabinet meeting split members, some believing the recommendation to ban horses to be "nonsense".

Originating from a discussion and subsequent recommendation from the Bryn-y-Cwm area committee, the report said there had been five "animal/visitor incidents" since the horses were allowed to graze there, along with cattle, in 2001.

However, the report went on to say that four of the incidents were in 2001 and, since, the animals have become more familiar with people and dogs, and visitors have refrained from feeding or petting the horses.

Councillor Verona Nelmes, cabinet member for social services, supported the recommendations and cited the original lease agreements, which said only cattle would graze on the land.

"The horses look lovely but we need to think of safety. I'm concerned that 99 per cent of the time they are safe but any single thing, the sound of a firework, for instance, can trigger them off and potentially cause a stampede."

Councillor Rob Griffiths disagreed, and said: "I was against it in the area committee and I'll speak against it now. Dogs can attack children, but are we going to ban all dogs? And then maybe we should think about banning cows. It's nonsense."