Unfortunately the situation being experienced at Brierley in North Herefordshire is not alone. Herefordshire appears to becoming the "polytunnel" capital of the UK and it is rumoured that the Herefordshire Council's letterhead will soon have the traditional cider apple logo removed - to be replaced by a polytunnel !
Other areas in Herefordshire to be affected include:
- Wickton, Stoke Prior, Nr. Leominster - now reported to be some 350 acres (Winter 2006) being put under the polytunnel regime by S & A Davies
- Marden, another S & A Davies site based on Brook Farm, Manor Farm and substantial acres of leased land around the area including Hawkersland and Wellington.
- The Wye Valley in South Herefordshire (an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty - AONB). Many, quite understandably, believe that polytunnels
should not be permitted in AONB's. If planning permission for polytunnels was
required everywhere in Herefordshire then the democratic process would allow for
their full assessment in these sensitive areas. Vast strawberry and other polytunnel sites are located at Kings Caple and
Walford; their effect on tourism and the environment has not been quantified by Herefordshire
County Council.
See the excellent web
www.polytunnelcontrol.org.uk
for further details including a broad selection of
horrible photos which clarify the alarming situation which residents
and visitors to these areas find themselves.
Note that the Kings Caple grower withdrew his planning application at the
last minute (19th December 2006) -so putting the situation back into the hands
of the council for Enforcement/Stop actions. An Enforcement Notice was
served for the whole site and the case went to Appeal. The Inspector's decision re Pennoxstone Court polytunnels at Kings Caple has now been published
(January 2008). The appeal
is basically refused with the exception of those polytunnels which have been
there for more than 4 years.
See Inspector's decision.
The Inspector agreed with the council in that "a polytunnel becomes substantially complete when the polythene sheeting is first placed over the metal structure, but it does not cease to be a polytunnel when the polythene is rolled back, provided the metal structure remains in place".
Also key is that the Inspector decided that polytunnels of this size were effectively "buildings" and need planning permission. This supports earlier decisions including that at Tuesley Farm.
- The Ledbury area which is home to Haygrove Fruit
And in December 2004, a planning application went to HCC for 6.4 acres of Spanish polytunnels at Bush Bank, near Leominster, Herefordshire. These polytunnels will be used for soft fruit growing (table top method) as the planning application was approved.
There are many other smaller "polytunnel sites"
in the county and several larger farmers are rumoured to be seriously
considering moving into strawberries, raspberries, cherries, flowers and/or
asparagus either themselves or by renting
ground to the major strawberry barons.
Even in October 2005, pressure was being put on
HC from the Malvern Hills AONB to require planning permission for polytunnels (see
letter to Barrett via this link) -- was anything done ?
Outside of Herefordshire, the latest case is at Tuesley
Farm, Milford, Surrey in the Waverley Borough Council (WBC) area.
Tuesley Farm (owned and operated by Hall Hunter) installed polytunnels, mobile homes, etc. along exactly
the same lines as at Brierley Court Farm and insists that Planning
Permission was not required for any of these developments.
Fortunately for the many residents close to this farm, WBC placed Enforcement Notices on Hall Hunter in July 2004 since they believed that the developments and
the polytunnels
themselves required planning permission ! This follows exactly the advice
which AVRA received from it's own counsel.
Hall Hunter called witnesses on planning, landscape,
agriculture, the soft fruit market, business and financial aspects, hydrogeology
and a representative from the NFU. WBC had witnesses on planning,
landscape and agriculture. The Tuesley Residents Group were also strongly
represented and have excellent public support.
The appeal ended in early October 2005 after three lengthy sessions.
The result of the appeal was published mid-December 2005 and Hall Hunter lost on all counts !! Waverley, the residents
and CPRE achieved 100% victory. The polytunnels, mobile homes
and all other works have been held to require planning permission, and planning
permission has been refused. Hall Hunter are being allowed 12 months to
exit the farm rather than the original 4 stipulated in the notices. Hall Hunter
appealed to the High Court.
On 15th. December 2006 the High Court decided that WBC were correct and Spanish-style polytunnels
are development and need planning permission. Also, temporary mobile
homes need planning.
And planning permission at Tuesley Farm is refused. Congratulations to all those involved in the case. No further appeal is
expected. See the
Waverley area campaign group's web which contains the original inspector's
report, and the final Judge's statement.
See also
Waverley
Council's Press Release on the Inspector's decision.
In Tewkesbury Road, Newent, Gloucestershire, there are 180 acres of
polytunnels growing soft fruit and flowers. There was a clear understanding by
Forest of Dean District Council that planning permission was required and that
this was not ‘permitted agricultural development’. After the planning
procedure, the applicant, Angus Davison, was granted a three-year trial period
in which to demonstrate the system. Conditions were imposed. In particular, no
polytunnels could be placed nearer than 50 metres from property boundaries.
Local residents have benefited from the planning process but not from the
tunnels themselves which generate huge amounts of noise all summer. Water
run-off has been a particular problem causing landslips, blocked lanes and soil
erosion. And the plastic was blown away in strong winds - wrapping itself around
cottages in the area. See references to TRAP (campaigning against the polytunnels) at
CPRE.
August 2006:
Planning Permission has now been granted for these polytunnels - but with
conditions including a limitation on how close they can be to neighbours' property
boundaries. This is a big improvement on the so-called Codes of Practice.