An under-threat horse riding school is hoping to benefit from an unexpected boost courtesy of One Direction star Harry Styles.
The Best Song Ever singer posted a photo on his Instagram account of West London Stables owner Sarah Tuvey walking a horse along Ladbroke Grove.
Since the post, nearly three months ago, it has received over one million views and 100,000 comments.
Owner Sarah Tuvey needs to redevelop the stables, which she leases from the Westway Trust, a charitable organisation which set up to look after the 23-acres of Ladbroke Grove land beneath the A40 elevated motorway
However, she has been told the charity will not pay for the work required.
An online petition has been set up to help raise £50,000. If work cannot be carried out the cherished amenity, which is home to 20 horses, will shut.
Sarah is now hoping the Instagram post could be the shot in the arm needed to help stave of closure. She said: “I didn’t even know who Harry Styles was at first! But when I found out I didn’t know what to think, I was truly amazed.
“I thought he could support us or come to the stables, I thought it would be really good and help the cause a little bit.
“I don’t know if he lives in that area, if he was driving along or what his attraction was, I was just amazed. Sometimes a simple thing like that can be a lifeline to people like us.”
The Westway Trust has come in for heavy criticism over recent times, with accusations of attempts to gentrify the area.
It is being held partly-responsible for the closure of Maxilla Children's Centre, and the threat to the stables.
Coincidentally, the Instagram photo was taken as Sarah walked back with horse JJ after attending a protest against the Kensington & Chelsea Council’s spending on the Holland Park opera house while valuable services are threatened.
And she had this personal plea to the singer: “My message to Harry is to help us change our direction. We’re serving a community and would be really grateful if you could step in and help us get a bit of publicity with your profile.
“We don’t want your money, we just want your support. Just having you would make a massive difference for us.”
She said closure for the stables would be a blow for the community: “There are 20 horses, but that’s not just it. It’s also about the huge amount of people we’re helping that need the support of the stables, and that’s what is going to be taken away. This is about making people inclusive.”
Former stables user Zoe Dimoldenberg follows Harry Styles on Instagram and spotted his post. She said: “I hope it brings awareness for the stables because it’s going to get shut down if it doesn’t get enough money.
“It would be a terrible thing if that happens because it’s such a good addition for the community. It would be really sad to see it closed.”
“In my view they’re irreplaceable, especially in the centre of London because there’s nothing affordable like this.
“I used to go there all the time when I was younger, I have really fond memories of my time there.”
The Westway Trust has said that it does not expect to see the stables continue. It says it is trying to assist with the safe transition of the horses from the site within a reasonable time frame.
A spokesman said an independent review showed support for the stables was not strong, and that following the completion of a feasibility study, equestrianism may be considered as part of the future of the site, but not in its current form.
The West London Stable fundraising page can be found online, as can a petition.
