Stoke-on-Trent farm told popular ice cream parlour can stay

The applicants apologised to neighbours who had complained and said they had taken action

A farm which received 344 letters of support for its ice cream parlour has been told the attraction can stay.

Owners of Bobby's Ice Cream Parlour, in Hulme Lane, Stoke-on-Trent, had applied for partly-retrospective planning permission.

The plan received 49 objections, including one which said neighbouring properties would "pay the price with loss of privacy and noise pollution".

The applicants apologised for "our mistakes" adding they had made changes.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council backed the proposal for the conversion of a former agricultural building into retail use, creation of a parking area and improved vehicle access.

Natalie Taylor, who runs the business at Springfields Farm with husband Craig, said: "I would like to firstly apologise to everyone for allowing things to come to this, when we opened Bobby's we were a little naïve and foolish.

"We did not do our proper research and did not realise the correct procedure surrounding it."

She said they had not "expected the responses it first got", adding: "I can assure you that we have learnt from our mistakes and we shall not make these mistakes again."

"We apologise to our neighbours that have made comments regarding Bobby's and we have taken action based on their comments.

"We are a young growing, hard working family and have recently moved into Springfield Farm and have both lived in the area all of our lives."

Changes have included removing play equipment and inflatables at the site.

Objections raised included over the proximity of the outside eating area to neighbouring homes. Meanwhile, Werrington Parish Council backed the proposal but raised concerns around safe access.

The district council backed the plan with several conditions, including the introduction of a hedge on the boundary and that only low level lighting be used.

Labour councillor Keith Hoptroff told the planning committee: "It looks like a very good set-up, welcome in the countryside for tourism and for a young family trying to run a good business using local workers."

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

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