A message from Janta Wheelhouse and his family who live at Karuna in Shropshire, who the Lifeline visited last September.
Greetings friends and supporters
A new year and unfortunately, yet again we are ‘forced’ into an appeal, this time against the local planning authority’s refusal to allow the project a Poly-tunnel (for the 2nd time) and we very much need letters of support to help win the appeal. This appeal is not a full Public inquiry as before but a hearing, described as ‘an informal across the table discussion’.
The Public cannot attend, unless they are chosen witnesses.
If anyone would like to act as witness because of your own experience of Polytunnels in relation to small scale business or in any other context that is relative, please contact us.
The deadline for submitting letters is 14 January 2010.
Appeal Ref :APP/L3245/A/09/2117970/NWF post 2 copies (addressed to the Inspector) it to:
The Planning Inspectorate
Room 3/22
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6PN
or email : teamp2@pins.gsi.gov.uk
You must include your own postal address when writing or email for your letter to be valid.
The full grounds of appeal are in an attachment, which can be sent to you if you wish to read them to get the full picture.
In short……….
We have applied for permission to erect a polytunnel of 145 square meter in the center of the horticultural area, adjacent to the tool shed and water supply,
. The Poly-tunnel will be used for raising vegetable plants in modules to be grown outside, growing tomatoes, aubergines chilies, sqaushes, cucumbers, salad leaf , Aloe Vera & other Cacti as well as for propagation of trees, soft fruit bushes and perennial herbs.
This will provide a protective environment which is essential to make vegetable production and nursery economically viable, for the following reasons:
It will lengthen the growing season
It will enable cultivation of a wider variety of produce
It will enable viable cultivation at 900 foot above sea level
It will enable viable cultivation in the face of climate change
The produce will be sold in local markets, as well as used to feed people on educational courses throughout the summer, Karuna is now a recognised center within the Permaculture Association LAND project.
We have applied to erect this polytunnel in 2007 and was refused so now we reduced the size of it (by 35 square m) but the refusal is the same.
LPA’s REASONS FOR REFUSAL:
“The siting is in a location visually prominent from the south and remote from the existing approved barn structure on this holding and would therefore be contrary to Policy statement 7 and the Shrewsbury and Atcham borough Local plan Policies LNC3 and LNC9.”
This is entirely unfounded
We contend that the polytunnel would have minimal visual impact from the south.
Photographic evidence will be submitted to illustrate the actual visual impact of the proposed polytunnel. We do not believe that the minimal visual impact is sufficient ground to justify outright refusal of the application.
We would be happy to implement more screening and landscaping to further reduce the visual impact, should this prove necessary in the view of the Inspector.
This is an agro-forestry site and, as such, is in a state of constant change
The rapid growth of many of the trees on the site has substantially reduced the potential visual impact of the proposed polytunnel.
This factor should have been taken into account and addressed by the LPA in determining our most recent application.
The very Polytunnel we are being refused was previously erected by the side of the road, in full view,on a farm a mere mile away.
There it stood in full public view for several years without planning permission, nor did it receive any objections/complaints from the LPA or parish council.
We hope the inspector can understand how disturbing this kind of discrimination can be for us. This surly demonstrates an inconsistency of approach.
*We can not over estimate the importance of the polytunnel to the progress of the karuna Permaculture project, it will give it the means to become so much more productive and economically viable, which is the key factor for the progress of this permaculture project.
If possible, please write a short & powerful letter of support to the above address it will all help to win this silly battle, help simple common sense prevail ….
We are are very disturbed by the LPS’s double standards , nearby, we see much larger Polytunnels being placed in open fields fully which have been fully approved.
If you visited karuna please mention this in the letter and please email/post an extra copy to us.
If you have any questions feel free to call us 01694 751374, please remember the deadline is 14th January.
thank you so much and may the new year bring positive change for us all
Karuna family.
Thank you so much, Great information… You keep writing and I’ll keep reading.