Two fruit farms in Staffordshire are being allowed to keep their polytunnels after local authorities have said that it they are vital for the local economy.
Leese Farm and Dearnsdale Farm, farmed by T.W. Busby and Sons, generate more than £6m for the economy. They have Spanish style polytunnels which, some local residents have claimed, are spoiling the view. But the farms grow a lot of strawberries – 2,000 tons per year in the case of Dearnsdale – that are sold in the UK.
John Heath, speaking for the farms, said: “Home produced food has dropped by 15 per cent in the last 20 years. The message is we have got to make British food and make it happen.”
Despite the objections of the view being spoilt and mud on the road, the local planning committee agreed.
The polytunnels at Leese Farm will rotate on land at the site up until 2016 but will be removed beyond this date. The polytunnels at Dearnsdale will also be in place up to 2016 but will end up in a fixed position around the main farm building in 2017.
Councillor Mark Winnington, who called in the application with concerns about flooding, litter and mud, said: “We are not self-sufficient in food. We really should be supporting food production where we can.”
Councillor Barry Stamp added: “Of all the residents I have spoken to, no-one is rejecting to the polytunnels per se. People were aware of the polytunnels when they bought their properties.”
Councillor Ann Edgeller said: “It’s fantastic we can get soft fruit most of the year and this is only until 2016.
“I would like to think we can support it.”
Source: Fresh Plaza – UK: Staffordshire Fruit Farms Allowed to Keep Polytunnels
