A RIDING stables owner claims noise from a new Rail link connecting Oxford to London could spook horses and cause fatal accidents.

Wendlebury Gate stables, in Langford Lane, near Bicester, is adjacent to the Bicester-Oxford railway line, which operator Chiltern Railways plans to upgrade.

The company wants to introduce fast frequent trains between Oxford and Bicester and the capital’s Marylebone station.

But stable owners John Offord and his daughter Hazel fear the noise of speeding trains will scare horses in the paddock and prevent trainers communicating with riding students for valuable seconds.

They are calling on the firm to build a wall alongside the track, costing £100,000 But Chiltern Railways insists there are a number of riding stables close to railways on which fast trains operate, and say that no evidence has been found of incidents caused by passing trains.

Mr Offord, 78, whose daughter set up the school 22 years ago, said: “At the moment several slow trains each day pass the stables, but under Chiltern’s plans there will be seven trains an hour travelling between 70 and 100 mph.

“Our concerns are the noise which will make speech unintelligible in our riding school.

“We had a sound consultant check this for us and he said during the passing of a freight train in particular, for about 25 seconds, we would not be able to communicate with our pupils. We teach riders from three years upwards and it could be very dangerous.”

The family, who employ nine people at the stables, say the problem could be overcome by building a barrier between the equestrian centre and rail line.

But the rail company is refusing to pay for a £100,000 three-metre high wall running for 300 metres.

Health and safety consultants Harris and Porter calculated that without a noise barrier there could be up to two serious or fatal accidents at the stables a year due to excess noise from passing trains.

Mr Offord said they would be forced to close the school, which has 40 horses and 250 pupils, for safety reasons and its trading licence was unlikely to be renewed.

The matter is currently being heard at a pubic inquiry over the rail operator’s plan at the Oxford Conference Centre, Park End Street.

A spokesman for Chiltern Railways said: “Disturbance from the trains will not present a safety risk at the stables.” A noise barrier is not necessary.”