Despair over nursery decision

The plan to convert a farm building at Fox Hunt Green, Waldron, to house the Haymakers Nursery was approved, subject to conditions, back in March but the residents have only recently received a decision notice.

They fought the plan, lobbying both parish and district councillors, and commissioned their own report to support concerns. These concerned an increase in traffic on what they considered a dangerous stretch of road and accessing the nursery site on a bend.

One of the residents, Mrs Sue Garden, spoke at the meeting, and they were hopeful that the application would be refused as recommended by the county highways department and the planning authority's own officer.

But they were shocked when Waldron councillor Mrs Barbara Clark spoke in favour of the application and was supported by a majority of the planning sub-committee members.

Mr Jonathan Layfield of Fox Hunt Green, told the Express last week: 'There is total and utter despair as to how this planning application was pushed through.'

Chairman of the development sub-committee, south, Cllr Keith Whitehead, said it was the passionate plea on behalf of the nursery by Cllr Clark that persuaded the committee to overturn the officer's recommendation.

'I know there was a big representation from Fox Hunt Green, they spoke at the meeting, nevertheless the committee took on board the passionate plea made by the local member who managed to persuade the committee to overturn the officer's recommendation. It is in our power to do that and it does happen quite often.

'As far as I am concerned the application was fairly judged and the committee listened to all the arguments. A lot of people think that officers' recommendations are set in tablets of stone but this is not so, they are just advice to the committee and the committee can either heed that advice or disregard it and in many respects that is fair, appropriate and right but sometimes it kicks people in the teeth.

'I do feel sorry for the local people but you can't win them all. Sometimes things seem clear with overwhelming objections but that view doesn't always prevail.'

Cllr Clark refused to discuss the application and her reasons for supporting the nursery rather than the Fox Hunt Green residents. 'This has all been done and dusted. Permission has been given and you are perfectly at liberty to have a look at the minutes if you want to,' she told the Express.