Game bird unit ruled 'harmful to area'

Planning inspectors ruled the development at Nacklestone Farm would harm the surrounding landscape

A Herefordshire game bird keeper has lost his appeal to run a bird and egg-producing operation at a rural site near the River Teme.

Gareth Morgan applied for permission to build sheds and enclosures for pheasants, partridges, quails and geese at Nacklestone Farm, near Leintwardine.

Herefordshire Council planning officers refused the application last December due to its visual and environmental impact, and a lack of detail on vehicle movements and road safety.

Mr Morgan appealed against the decision, but a government planning inspector upheld the refusal, ruling that the use of the land had already begun and had caused harm to the surrounding landscape.

The government planning inspector said "several" timber bird houses and pens were in use at Blackbridge Game, making the appeal effectively retrospective.

These structures "resulted in harm to the character and appearance of the area", according to the inspector's report.

Environmental concerns were also raised, saying it could not be certain that the waste "would not result in likely adverse effects" on the River Teme's Special Area of Conservation through increased phosphate pollution.

The structures already on site are now expected to be subject to planning enforcement action.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.