OWNERS of York Riding School face a public inquiry after they were accused of breaching planning regulations by allowing a car sales business on their land.

Lorna and Mario Marchi, who once took three horses into council offices in protest at a previous planning decision, have appealed against the authority's bid to take enforcement action.

City of York Council claims the couple, from Wigginton Road, breached planning regulations by allowing car sales business Red Pyramid and car wash company, Completely Lathered, to operate on their land.

Officers say that has changed the use of the land without permission - and the land lies within the green belt "where there is a strong presumption against inappropriate development".

They also claim the unauthorised uses are "visually intrusive". The enforcement notice demands that the businesses stop trading at the site and that all vehicles, car wash equipment, associated facilities and portable buildings are removed.

Mrs Marchi said their call for an inquiry followed numerous run-ins with the council which she has logged in 11 folders. She says she has 1,700 files detailing her dealings with the authority.

"Every single thing we do they have problems with."

In her submission to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Mrs Marchi highlighted that the site had been a large developed area for the last 41 years.

It has been used as a leisure centre and, until June 1999, was one of the UK's three largest equestrian centres, employing ten full-time staff.

It has also been a college equine unit, show venue and examination centre.

Mrs Marchi also claimed that major works on the Wigginton Road for the outer ring road impacted on their activities.

"This led to the loss of a lifetime of work and a truly valuable resource. Rather than surrender our land, we changed our way of life to find new opportunities," she said. The couple sold assets of the equestrian centre and attempted to find new uses for the land and buildings.

Mr Marchi said: "We have been offered big money for that land - I could retire tomorrow. But we don't want to. So if the council doesn't want this usage, can they tell us what they do want so we can get on and earn a living."

In 2001, the council decided the couple were breaching planning regulations by allowing certain businesses to use buildings on their site. The couple hit back by taking horses inside council offices in protest. Enforcement action was put on hold after the couple submitted applications for the buildings and councillors then approved planning changes.

Updated: 09:35 Saturday, April 23, 2005