At a time of cuts and austerity, it is beyond the pale that ratepayers are having to foot a bill of more than £200,000 to cover the cost of the growing number of stray horses being impounded from Bradford’s streets.

The selfish actions of the people who simply leave their horses tethered and force the Council to act to remove them is impacting on all of us.

And the fact that only three of the 146 horses seized by the Council since April 2011 have been claimed by owners demonstrates that these owners are not only oblivious of the cost of their actions, they also have absolutely no compassion for the horses they own.

Rather than face up to the consequences of their horses being impounded, and cover the Council’s costs to allow them to reclaim them, they would rather simply not bother and wash their hands of it.

With the average cost of reclaiming a horse just under £1,500, and reports of horses being offered for sale for £300 or less – much, much less, according to some – the unscrupulous owners are not going to shed a tear about losing a companion.

The Council has to act for the sake of the animals themselves and for the sake of the community. But more must be done to force those who are so reckless and wilfully selfish with their behaviour to pay the cost themselves.

If the owners know that their horse will be impounded but they are not likely to face further action, and if they want another horse, they are easy enough to buy, they will continue this cruel habit of simply abandoning them.

It is not only irresponsible, it is cruelty and neglect, and more must be done to bring the culprits to book. Perhaps it is time for the police and the RSPCA to be asked to help out in tracking down the guilty parties.