Pruning Polytunnels in Herefordshire

Herefordshire Council is to prepare a voluntary code of practice to control the growing problem of unsightly polytunnels which are sprouting up throughout the county.

Members of the authority's Environment Programme Panel met this week (Monday, September 2) to discuss the issue and agreed that a working party be formed to draw up the voluntary code.

They also agreed that all interested parties are consulted over the issue and their views considered as part of the process.

Currently planning permission has to be sought in certain circumstances and for certain types of construction - the ones which are growing rapidly are generally referred to as "Spanish".

Councillor Chris Grover, Cabinet Member (Environment), said: "We acknowledge there's a need for polytunnels in an agricultural county, but we want to prevent them becoming a blight on our landscape.

"This is not just a problem confined to Herefordshire. However, we're confident that with guidelines in place we will be able to manage the environment without stunting agricultural growth".