North Tyneside Council is proposing to take over management of the Rising Sun Farm on an interim basis after liquidation of the farm’s charitable trust’s trading company in October.
The takeover will follow on from the surrender of the current lease arrangements with the Trust, which will enable the Council to step in and manage the farm until a suitable organisation is found to run it in the long term.
Animal welfare officers will closely monitor the care of the remaining farm animals during this period, with an independent farm assistant supporting the day-to-day operations.
Mark Longstaff, director of commissioning and asset management at North Tyneside Council, said: “The proposed decision to take over the farm from the Rising Sun Farm Trust was a mutual agreement between the Council and the board of trustees. We aim to protect the long-term viability of the site and the services provided there.
“We are confident we will find a new organisation that will push the farm towards a bright future and create a thriving community asset in the borough. We will be seeking expressions of interest, early in the new year, from community-based organisations to take over the running of the farm in the long term.”
Businesses located at the farm are unaffected and remain open, including Earth and Fire Bakery and Belle and Herbs. The Falconer will continue to be based at the farm and the provision of livery services will continue as normal and will not affect the stables on site.
