Polytunnels

POLYTUNNELS IN HEREFORDSHIRE.
This is a review of the current situation in Herefordshire. We would welcome views, especially from Herefordshire residents.  CPRE members can also find more information on our members' area. The picture shows the view from Marden, from a resident's house.

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CPRE Herefordshire has become increasingly concerned, as the soft fruit growers have increasingly expanded their polytunnel developments. Inevitably these large-scale, visually intrusive, 'Spanish' Polytunnels, with their infrastructures, are impacting on the beauty and tranquillity of the landscape. ('Spanish' polytunnels comprise interlocking tunnels, with lengths varying from 30 - 300 metres, of 6.7 metres in width and typically 3 metres high).

CPRE Herefordshire had supported Herefordshire Council in their past attempts to control the polytunnel spread, but realised that the Council's 'Herefordshire Voluntary Code of Practice for the Temporary Agricultural Use of Polytunnels' 2003 (revised as the 'Herefordshire Code of Practice...' in 2004) was not monitoring the required maximum time (two years) that the polytunnels, on some farms, were in the same location.

The Council had stipulated that where the fruit was grown above the ground, on 'raised beds', planning permission would be required, as this type of growing constituted a 'permanent' land-use and, therefore, was not within their Code of Practice.

Following the High Court Judgement (December 2006) on the Appeal by the Polytunnel Soft-Fruit Growers at Tuesley Farm, in Godalming, Surrey, Herefordshire Council Cabinet, in March 2007, resolved that all new polytunnel developments should be treated as development requiring planning permission and they set a programme for enforcement in respect of existing sites.

Additionally, a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was to be prepared to elaborate on policies in the Herefordshire Unitary Development Policy (UDP). This SPD would involve consultation with the growers and the community, with adoption anticipated by May 2008. The Polytunnel Code of Practice was discontinued.

In June 2007, a Herefordshire Grower lodged a Judicial Review of the Council's decision on planning requirements for polytunnels. In July 2007, the legal position was clarified, by the Communities and Local Government Chief Planner, in a letter to Local Authority Planning Officers. He stressed that the definition of development would depend on the type and scale of the proposals including size, degree of permanence and physical attachent to the ground. Polytunnels do not comprise agricultural 'permitted development' as 'buildings' if they cover more than 465 sq. metres. Although more than one such 'building' could be erected, they would have to be at least 90 metres from each other.

In November 2007, in response to the Judicial Review challenge, Herefordshire Council decided to amend the Cabinet decision (made March 2007) and a substitute recommendation was put forward for discussion at the Cabinet meeting held on 13th December 2007. This recommendation deleted paragraphs (a) and (b) of the previous decision and substituted: (a) Whether or not planning permission is required for new or existing polytunnel developments within the County will be determined on the facts of each case and (b) Whether or not enforcement proceedings will also be determined on the facts of each case. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of the March decision stand. At the time of writing, this Recommendation has not been implemented; it will probably be discussed at the Council's Cabinet Meeting, on 10th January 2008.

There are several large Soft Fruit Growers in Herefordshire who use Polytunnels to extend the season, at Brierley, Marden, Wickton, Ledbury, Kings Caple and near Ross on Wye. One Grower has covered 324 hectares (approx. 800 acres) of good agricultural land in this County with polytunnels: this includes about 26 hectares (approx. 62 acres) of 'raised bed' tunnels at Marden.

There are three Polytunnel Growers in the Herefordshire part of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the mass of glistening tunnels mars this beautiful landscape.

For a short winter period, out of the extended season, the polythene is removed but the hoops are often left in position.

There are other concerns: the potential damage to the soil, both through compaction and sterilisation. The growing crop is heavily fertilised and frequently dosed with pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. Water is used extensively, on a 'trickle irrigation' system; abstraction is often from rivers or streams, sometimes from boreholes.

'Run-off' both from the excess water, and from rainfall on the polytunnels, causes erosion, muddy conditions on local roads and footpaths, and could pollute waterways. Narrow country road verges are damaged by the heavy traffic collecting the soft fruit for delivery to distant distribution centres, The seasonal labour force employed to harvest the soft fruit is accommodated in caravans, mobile homes or 'pods', with ancillary amenity buildings, and, in many cases, these remain through the year without the benefit of planning permission. Transport used to move the labour force causes congestion on the narrow roads.

CPRE recognises that the landscape has been formed by years of land-management, farming and forestry. It also recognises that farmers need to make a living. Mixed farms are becoming a rarity as the value of sheep and cattle falls. However the current resurgence in cereal prices, and the demand for bio-fuels, may provide alternatives to polytunnel soft fruit growing.

CPRE Herefordshire believes that large-scale, intensive polytunnel developments are damaging the amenity and enjoyment of the countryside, both for residents and for visitors. We believe that the AONB, in particular, should be protected from theses intrusive structures as contrary to the special landscape designation of these areas.

We look forward to the requirement for planning permission for polytunnels, with SCALE and LOCATION as the main considerations in the democratic decision-making process.

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CPRE Herefordshire is a registered Charity: No: 213951. The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.