WORK IS SET to begin on a £1 million riding school for the disabled on the outskirts of Dundee after nine years of hard work and planning.

DJ Laing will start work on February 5 on the site north of Linlathen Nursing Home, off Arbroath Road, after more than £400,000 was raised.

The Brae Partnership charity wants to create a Scots centre of excellence where instructors, physiotherapists and helpers are given specialised training to work with disabled riders.

Construction is expected to take five months and Princess Anne, as patron of Riding for the Disabled, will be invited to the opening.

A spokesperson for the Brae Partnership said, “The Brae RDA has been working towards its goals for the last nine years and can now confirm that they have achieved the following: raised in excess of £400,000, finalised the required lease for 20 acres, received required planning and building permission and purchased three horses in anticipation of the opening.

“The hard work that has gone into this by all of the Brae supporters has been immense.

“Directors, development workers, project managers, fund-raisers, local businesses and charities have all added their support over the last years and enabled this to become a reality for the people of Dundee.

“The final funding has been achieved through the support of The Big Lottery (£181,000), BBC Children In Need (£75,000) and The Robertson Trust (£33,000), to name just a few.

“Without this the project could not have succeeded.”

It will be the first centre of its kind in Dundee.

The spokesperson said, “The directors of The Brae each have very specific backgrounds and will be able to provide key support structures for the centre.

“To give an example, physiotherapists, college lecturers, experienced RDA instructors and business managers will all contribute to the success and promotion of the centre.

“The reason behind why so many people have supported the charity is clear when the benefits are listed and this is not exhaustive: great fun, improved balance and muscle power, raises self esteem and improves co-ordination.”

A project manager has been put in place so the directors can concentrate on funding still required for specific items such as hoists, arena flooring and a lift.

Recruitment has also started for a full-time centre manager, with assistance from Lloyds TSB.

A large team of volunteers will support the directors and centre manager.

The Brae Partnership charity submitted a planning application for indoor and outdoor riding arenas.

At a recess sub-committee meeting in July, councillors unanimously approved the application, welcoming it as a way of improving the quality of life of disabled people.

It comprised an 1800-square-metre indoor arena with an additional 540 square metres of stable and office accommodation.

Within the centre there will be warm changing areas, kitchen facilities, a physiotherapy room, a small meeting room, and tack and feed rooms.

There will also be an outdoor arena of some 3200 square metres plus parking for cars and horseboxes.

The centre will have an indoor school, including a viewing area to British showjumping standards.