Conditional site approval
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Wild and Watmore Turf Farm has been granted authority to base its six vehicles and two trailers at a new operating centre, subject to environmental conditions, despite objections from the local district and parish councils and a number of residents.
The company had applied to North Western Licensing Authority Martin Albu for authority to use The Turf Farm, Free Green Lane, Lower Peover.
Director Steven Watmore said that the company had built a road through the fields to prevent mud being transferred on to the public road. If the application was not granted, it would continue turf cutting operations at the farm, which would mean extra vehicle movements in the area.
Alan James, for Macclesfield District Council, said it could not object to the turf farming, as that was an agricultural operation, but it objected to the use of the site as an operating centre for goods vehicles.
For Lower Peover Parish Council, John Spurling said there was concern about road safety.
The residents complained about damage to the road, noise and loss of amenity to people using the access lane to the site. They opposed the change from a rural setting to what they regarded as a "nearindustrial operation".
Watmore said that the district council, despite objecting to the application, was one of his customers. He denied he was spoiling the environment; in fact he had planted trees round the perimeter and tidied up the site.
In granting the application, Albu said he could not consider the road safety objections. He stressed the company had a right to use the lane, and if its junction with the main road was dangerous then it was up to the highway authority to take action.
However, the LA did impose five conditions, limiting the size of the vehicles to no more than 17 tonnes; requiring them to be parked within an existing building when not in use; banning on-site maintenance; restricting the times between which they may enter and leave; and controlling the direction in which they may enter and leave.