Manor Farm Transport must wait and see
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• A Leicestershire partnership will have to wait to see if it has won authority to use an operating centre it constructed on agricultural land following objections from the County Council, Swannington Parish Council, Swannington Heritage Trust and local residents.
Graham Tovell and Beverley Walker, trading as Manor Farm Transport were seeking authority to operate one vehicle and three trailers from the site in Limby Hall Lane, Swannington, after losing their previous operating centre.
The partners gave evidence that the vehicles were used in connection with their business as potato merchants and in connection with farming the surrounding land. The site was 200 metres from the main road, there was no noisy equipment and there was ample planning space. If the application was refused they would have to employ outside contractors. A traffic examiner had felt that it was a suitable operating centre and the police were satisfied that it was safe.
Leicestershire County Council was concerned that the junction with the A447 road was sub-standard on Department of Transport criteria. The lane itself was narrow and had a three-tonne weight limit except for access.
For the representors it was argued that there was no planning permission for use as an operating centre. The site was visually unacceptable in open countryside. The dust, noise and smell associated with such activities was changing the nature of what was a minor rural lane. All three local authorities took an adverse view of such development.
In reply it was said that what was proposed was a very modest use relating to one vehicle making relatively few trips to and from the site each week.
Mr. Lewis reserved his decision commenting that the 21/2 day public enquiry had been an expensive exercise on all sides.