Answer: Surely, yes.
On my way to work at the Olympic Park yesterday I saw this:
This tiny plot of scrubland is at the western base of the footbridge that crosses the A12 dual carriageway at Cadogan Terrace, which is right next to Victoria Park.
Here are two other shots of it:
The stables are behind that advertising billboard.
As I stopped to have a look, a man in a yellow T-shirt arrived (he’s the man climbing over the fence in the first picture). I asked him what the graffiti was all about. Bloody animal rights, he said. “Cruel, my arse. Where do they expect horses to be kept?”
He told me he was going to be keeping a couple of horses in there from this week. He also said he had a larger field but he declined to say where.
I asked him what the horses were used for and he said they were for his cart, that they were for work. He wouldn’t say what work, other than it was not for passengers. Perhaps he’s a rag and bone ban, I don’t know.
He then tried opening his padlocks to the makeshift “stables” but couldn’t because they’d been glued. That’s why he had to climb over. He then looked rattled when I started asking more questions, such as whether he had planning permission (“Yes, I’ve got all the permissions I need).
I can’t find any reference to it on the Tower Hamlets Council planning website and the press office is now looking into it.
If the animal rights campaigners don’t defeat him, then I suspect the various authorities will.
Trial by Jeory 
I’m not sure of the point of this post.
Is it that the space is not sufficient for stabling, or the fact that a large road is nearby?
I would have said it’s not cruel if the horses get exercise, which would be a problem if the padlock has been glued, as it locks them in.
No real point, Dan…just a bit of old-fashioned news, that’s all.
At least he’s trying to earn a living which is more than a many do in Tower Hamlets…
The man concerned is a member of that unusual group of people, travelers who live on fixed sites. He actually lives in a luxurious bungalow almost opposite the footbridge on the eastern side of the motorway and has a large motor home parked in front. He keeps his carts and other paraphernalia on an even smaller piece of land adjacent to the railway line a few yards from his bungalow opposite the cafe.
He earns his living from dealing in scrap, tarmacing, roofing and associated activities all of which are course known to the Inland Revenue as he is most particular about that sort of thing.
The “larger field” the man referred to is likely to be a steep, grassed embankment just before this, next to the A12. Have seen horses on there in the past and thought it odd. Don’t think the man is telling the truth then about the stables being recent. Surely the council’s Animal Warden Service could help? Or at least guide you to the agency which will deal with it. The animals and the stables and the possible “larger field” should be checked over by an expert. I feel guilty that I didn’t look into the horses on that embankment a year or so ago, so am glad that this post about ‘stables’ is here – sorry, danmccurry.
I was expecting an, at least speculative, article along the lines of ” where were you when the fire alarm went off at the Town Hall” by now. Tower Hamlets has gone somewhat beyond a laughing stock.