Plans to open a shooting range for quiet air rifles have been withdrawn amid fears horses could be spooked on a nearby bridleway.

Stuart Pike was hoping to turn a one-acre site in Hoath, outside Canterbury, into a private members’ club to shoot at ground-level targets.

It was hoped the new venue could become the “perfect” place for airgun shooters to practice their hobby - but the proposals for a plot of land off Ford Hill have been pulled from the city council’s planning portal before officers could make a decision.

Concerned villagers and the British Horse Society voiced “strong” opposition against the divisive scheme.

Kent County Council also objected, stressing how the shooting centre would be too close to a public right of way.

The application also included a retrospective bid for a bund that has been built around the site.

The earth bund was envisaged to reduce noise to an “almost negligible” level, but the proposals have now been pulled.

The British Horse Society, which represents three million riders across the UK, had called for the plan to be refused, citing fears over horses getting startled or bolting.

Sarah Rayfield, access field officer at the charity, said: “I believe that, if this application was approved, the likely impact would be that many horse-riders would have their use of the bridleway interrupted as they would avoid using this bridleway for fear of horses being frightened by gunshot or even hit by stray pellets.”

A number of villagers also spoke out against the shooting range bid, including Matthew Herbert, who said it would cause a “negative change to the soundscape of the area that would negatively affect both humans and animals”.

The parish magazine also called on residents to “act quickly” in combating the plans.

Following criticism, the development proposal was withdrawn last Thursday. It is not known if the scheme will return in a revised format.

The original application stated: “There are a large number of airgun shooters in the community that are crying out for somewhere safe to practice their sport, and this range will provide a perfect and safe venue for them.

“There will be no disturbance to wildlife or domestic animals, and the peace and tranquillity of Hoath will be preserved.”