Marden firm's polytunnels plan a step too far, says council

Planning officer Rebecca Jenman is recommending that Herefordshire Council's planning committee approve the proposal (generic image)

A plan to cover an area greater than 13 football pitches in new polytunnels is a step too far, a council says.

S&A Soft Fruits of Marden, Herefordshire, wants to expand its protected strawberry production by 9.5 hectares at its Drakeley Farm.

Marden Parish Council has "strongly" objected, submitting a list of 30 points of concern.

But Herefordshire Council has recommended the plan - submitted last summer - be given planning permission.

Marden council said the parish "has already been changed totally" by lorries and other traffic, noise, light pollution and "general degradation" of the environment caused by the fruit farm.

"This application is a step to (sic) far," it said. A further 22 individual letters of objection have been lodged.

But Welsh Water and Natural England have made no objection to the proposal.

Planning officer Rebecca Jenman, is recommending the county council planning committee to approve the proposal when it meets on 17 January.

The company withdrew an earlier, larger 13.5-hectare polytunnel plan for the farm last April, which had drawn nearly 100 objections.

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

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