Large-scale Strawberry producers in Herefordshire, are exploiting planning legislation to erect hundreds of acres of polytunnels without planning permission. This practice destroyes the environment, local wildlife, and the rural landscape. It also impacts on peoples homes, and those who depend on tourism for a living.
The Town and Country Planning Act 1990, includes rules of Permitted Development which allow farmer's to develop without having to first obtain planning permission if the development is for agricultural reasons. Farmer's in Herefordshire are exploiting these rules to erect hundreds of acres of polytunnels. The problem is that while polytunnels allow supermarkets to supply the well off with strawberries at Christmas, the cost to the environment, wildlife, tourism, and those who depend on tourism for a living is enormous. What many don't know is that in order to erect polytunnels farmer's routinely sterilise the soil with chemicals. This means all the insects, and earthworms who live below the tunnel are destroyed, and the local wildlife that depend on them are also harmed. These polytunnels also harm people and tourism. Destruction of the rural landscape has blighted peoples homes and undermined the tourism that many depend on. The Government refuse to tighten up the rules, because of the farming lobby (don't forget the NFU is still one of the few trade unions with a statutory right of consultation), and Herefordshire Council (which is unsuprisingly made up of farmer's), insist on interpreting the rules in favour of the farmer's.
Farming should be encouraged, but not at such a cost.
Farming should be encouraged, but not at such a cost.
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Not only Polytunnels
15.09.2005 10:01
For further details, see www.avra.uk.com
J Jones
William
02.03.2006 10:59
The AVRA website (www.avra.uk.com) has lots more info. as does the Tuesley Farm campaigtn groups website.
William Powell
e-mail:
Kent
Tuesley Farm Campaign Group
15.10.2007 13:58
Planning
Wavereley Borough Council
Council Offices
The Burys
Godalming
Surrey GU7 1HR
Ref: WA/2007/1962 Erection of 20 ha of polytunnels on Tuesley Farm
The closing date is Friday 19th October 2007
Or online.. you can copy and paste the address line below in to your browser:
Alternatively go to www.waverley.gov.uk and go to "planning". After that please put in reference WA/2007/1962
Your support is needed to stop this company from destroying our beautiful area and to restrict polytunnels in all areas of the country.
Thank you.
Tuesley Farm Campaign Group
e-mail:
info@tuesleyfarmcampaign.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.tuesleyfarmcampaign.org.uk