North Walsham vets plan mini-Newmarket

A North Walsham veterinary practice plans to invest in a new specialist surgery for horses and large animals and become a 'mini-Newmarket'.Westover, one of Norfolk's longest-established practices, has bought new premises at Manor Farm, Hainford, and 30 acres of land as a proposed base for its expanding large animal practice.

A North Walsham veterinary practice plans to invest in a new specialist surgery for horses and large animals and become a 'mini-Newmarket'.

Westover, one of Norfolk's longest-established practices, has bought new premises at Manor Farm, Hainford, and 30 acres of land as a proposed base for its expanding large animal practice.

Partner Tom Hume said the large animal and equine practice would move from cramped facilities in London Road, North Walsham, later this year.

'We will be leaving the small-animal practice at North Walsham, but this represents a big investment by the partnership. It will be fanastic, we hope, but at the moment it is a shell of a barn, so we're going to renovate it,' he said

'We've got about 30 acres of land around the outside, so the idea is to have some paddocks for our in-patient horses and then stabling and operating facilities within the barn.

'It will be bigger and smarter and newer. We can improve the service to our clients with the sort of facilities available at Newmarket.

'With clients right up on the north Norfolk coast, we'll have specialist facilities an hour closer to hand.'

Mr Hume added: 'We're looking to do more on the equine field as well as with other large animals, including cattle and sheep.'

More than two years had been spent looking for a suitable location.

He is hoping that the plans will be accepted by the planners and that building work, which will take about four months, can

start in about a month.

'We're planning to be a mini-Newmarket, and we'll bring in additional surgical skills as necessary for planned operations as well,' said Mr Hume.