Environmental conditions ye residents protection
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• Local residents are afforded more protection through the grant of an Operator's Licence, which can be controlled by conditions, than if a licence is refused and the site is used by visiting vehicles said West Midland Licensing Authority John Mervyn Pugh. He granted a licence to Stonegate Farmers, subject to a number of restrictive conditions. This followed an objection from Bromsgrove District Council and representations from residents.
The Hailsham, Sussex-based company had applied to operate 14 vehicles and two trailers from Oaklands Poultry Farm, Seafield Lane, Beoley, near Redditch, and had been operating under interim authority since October.
For the company, Michael Carless said the site had been occupied by Attwell Farms for 25 years. Attwell produced the eggs and Stonegate graded, packed and marketed them. The drivers had to use the shortest route from the site to the A435 trunk road which is nearby.
Gillian Collin, Bromsgrove's principal planning officer, said the council was likely to take planning enforcement action as it considered there was a breach of planning consent as only a third of the eggs being packed originated from Attwell. It did not consider that an egg grading, packing and distribution centre was consistent with greenbelt policies.
It believed the parking of vehi
des would be intrusive and incongruous with the rural surroundings. Considerably more noise, fumes and inconvenience would be caused to the residents and damage was occurring to the verges on Seafield Lane.
The residents said the noise, had got considerably worse since October. They were concerned about safety in the country lanes.
Stephen Langford said estate agents had estimated the value of nearby property would be reduced by 20-30% He was worried that rare birds and mountjack deer nearby would be disturbed.
Stonegate's group transport manager Brian Mancktelow said that if they had to contract out the haulage, or base the vehicles elsewhere, it would lead to a probable 30% increase in traffic.
In granting the licence, Mervyn Pugh imposed a series of conditions restricting sizes and numbers of vehicles, times, days and direction for movements in and out of the centre,