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Following a long-running review of polytunnels by Members at which growers, Council officers and members of the public had the opportunity to express their views, Herefordshire Council has strengthened its code of practice.
It means any grower who wants to put up a polytunnel must adhere to the code of practice – meaning they must submit a landscape impact statement – previously this only applied to polytunnel applications within the County’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“We recognise we have to strike a difficult balance between the County’s economy and its landscape,” said Cllr Roger Phillips, Leader of the Council.
“Local Authorities will remain in this difficult position until such time as the Government moves to legislate on this increasingly widespread national problem of the increased use of polytunnels.
“We recognise this is somewhat of a holding position until Government actually moves to legislate.
“In the meantime, I intend to write to the Minister for Planning, Mr Keith Hill MP, inviting him to visit the County next spring so he can see for himself the impact polytunnels have on our landscape,” added Cllr Phillips.
The revised code now also states that growers will need planning permission if they intend to site polytunnels in the same position for two years, and that once the two years is up, they must remove the polytunnels and not return them there for a further two years.
COUNCIL'S GRIP ON POLYTUNNELS TIGHTENS
Following a long-running review of polytunnels by Members at which growers, Council officers and members of the public had the opportunity to express their views, Herefordshire Council has strengthened its code of practice.
It means any grower who wants to put up a polytunnel must adhere to the code of practice – meaning they must submit a landscape impact statement – previously this only applied to polytunnel applications within the County’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
“We recognise we have to strike a difficult balance between the County’s economy and its landscape,” said Cllr Roger Phillips, Leader of the Council.
“Local Authorities will remain in this difficult position until such time as the Government moves to legislate on this increasingly widespread national problem of the increased use of polytunnels.
“We recognise this is somewhat of a holding position until Government actually moves to legislate.
“In the meantime, I intend to write to the Minister for Planning, Mr Keith Hill MP, inviting him to visit the County next spring so he can see for himself the impact polytunnels have on our landscape,” added Cllr Phillips.
The revised code now also states that growers will need planning permission if they intend to site polytunnels in the same position for two years, and that once the two years is up, they must remove the polytunnels and not return them there for a further two years.
