Allotment on my boundary with no planning.

Robin2020

Member
Livestock Farmer
5 ladies own the field above me (top right in photo). They are doing a bit of rewilding, outdoor yoga, praying around trees, and the latest is a community garden to sell vegetables in town.
The land was/is
Screenshot_20220121-184958_Facebook.jpg
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permenant pasture. It is now becoming covered in bodged poly tunnels, raised beds, chickens etc etc. It all looks horrendous. You can see the plastic from miles away.
They now plan to expand and have started to prepare a 50x25m rectangle right above me. A huge poly tunnel is being crowd funded too. It's time to complain to the council.
What is the best route to take?
Question how this can be done in AONB!
Planning required to start an allotment?
Push for them to at least set it out in orderly way with minimum of plastic?
Suggest they use a different area that's less visible?
Any ideas or planning advice would be much appreciated. It was a beautiful valley...
20211205_112016.jpg
 

delilah

Member
It was a barren valley

Edited for you (y)
You moved there 5 minutes ago. And now you want it to stay as it was on the day you moved in - picturesque but unproductive - in the wholly mistaken belief that that is how it always was and always should be.
Nah. 'Your' valley will in the past have been an absolute hive of activity, with no end of agricultural - and quite probably industrial - enterprise. So some folks are making an attempt to bring back life and meaningful activity, and you resent that ? Suck it up.
 

Robin2020

Member
Livestock Farmer
Just let them carry on. It will all fizzle out in a few months once the initial enthusiasm has to face reality-foxes feasting on fowls, polytunnels flying away in a gale and slugs feasting on the veg-could be quite entertaining.
Yes maybe it will. I'm sure the 5 owners have different ideas. My sheep would love to sneak on there....
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
What I find curious is the outrage against fly tipping, rubbish dumping, litter, etc. in the countryside but it's OK to horde old cars, fire wood processing, rubbish, etc. on private property.

I have a crazy old woman local to me who has been collecting caravans, old cars, DIY sheds, etc, for over 20 years. Apparently, the cars are "in the course of renovation". What, for 20 years? The firewood processing is apparently agricultural diversification. There is no "agriculture" on the 3 acre plot and this isn't a small holder with a chain saw and log splitter, but a huge shed, timber processor, kiln drier, and artic loads of logs going in and transit loads of firewood going out! In short, an industrial operation. No planning permission, of course, because it's "farming"!

No, untidy farming needs to be controlled as well as untidy countryside. If nothing else, plant a block of trees to screen the private rubbish from the rest of us. What would that cost?
 

Robin2020

Member
Livestock Farmer
Edited for you (y)
You moved there 5 minutes ago. And now you want it to stay as it was on the day you moved in - picturesque but unproductive - in the wholly mistaken belief that that is how it always was and always should be.
Nah. 'Your' valley will in the past have been an absolute hive of activity, with no end of agricultural - and quite probably industrial - enterprise. So some folks are making an attempt to bring back life and meaningful activity, and you resent that ? Suck it up.
Indeed the valley was full of Mills along the brook making cloth and all sorts. I have lived in the town 15 years and the valley 3.....maybe that = 5mins... I have reintroduced sheep to the valley....so not really keeping it unproductive.
I think it is good that so many people enjoy the space through their various activities. Previously 3 cows sat about there.
However it would be nice to see a balance with the allotment. Some local ones have a bit of order and a few rules to keep them looking pleasant. Not too much to ask..
 
some important points;

1. You have no right to an opinion on what they do with their land. I think your taking the pee calling yourself a farmer with 40 sheep..... does that give me the right to say you shouldn't have them? The aesthetic is not your concern - your no better than a parish council.
2. It may be messy, they're just getting going - good on them, farming, growing food, getting the great mass of the public engaged with food production - we as an industry need tens of thousands of these people.
3. Why not reach out to your new neighbors - mention your concerns and get involved - Ive moved proposed barns, a poly and bale stacks because............... wait for it............... I talk to my neighbors, even those I disagree with and get their POV and in turn they do the same for me. My land was a sh!t tip for years when I was starting out - neighbors never made complaints (bar the PC) but they all sought to help me on my way to being a success.
4. Your valley isnt special - nor is mine - nothing says it should stay the same because you like it.
5. They clearly have f all money like all new starters - so everything will be cobbled together in that great British tradition the country bodge. Lets hope theyre successful and can afford a nice new poly tunnel in time for 2023 eh?
 

Hfd Cattle

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hereford
Live and let live . I can't see anything that would be a 'blot on the horizon' in the photos .
If they need planning permission then perhaps a gentle word in their ear to advise might help rather than let them carry on regardless . .....a helpful neighbour is always better than an awkward one and you can choose which you want to be .
 
Location
southwest
What I find curious is the outrage against fly tipping, rubbish dumping, litter, etc. in the countryside but it's OK to horde old cars, fire wood processing, rubbish, etc. on private property.

I have a crazy old woman local to me who has been collecting caravans, old cars, DIY sheds, etc, for over 20 years. Apparently, the cars are "in the course of renovation". What, for 20 years? The firewood processing is apparently agricultural diversification. There is no "agriculture" on the 3 acre plot and this isn't a small holder with a chain saw and log splitter, but a huge shed, timber processor, kiln drier, and artic loads of logs going in and transit loads of firewood going out! In short, an industrial operation. No planning permission, of course, because it's "farming"!

No, untidy farming needs to be controlled as well as untidy countryside. If nothing else, plant a block of trees to screen the private rubbish from the rest of us. What would that cost?

Are you against firewood processing per se or just the size of the operation? You complaint seems to be the opposite of the OP's who appears to object to small scale food production but not big (40 + head) sheep ranches!

I think everyone needs to live and let live.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
Are you against firewood processing per se or just the size of the operation? You complaint seems to be the opposite of the OP's who appears to object to small scale food production but not big (40 + head) sheep ranches!

I think everyone needs to live and let live.
That sounds splendid. So you would allow shanty towns to develop in scenic areas? Old cars and rusty corrugated iron sheds? Tourism is a big earner for some areas. So we let a few selfish people spoil that business for the many? Why is it some people cannot live without spreading their filth everywhere? I thought that was one of the main objections to the travelling community? No, it is not just the size of the operation but the fact that planning law is completely disregarded -- by the planning department too, who seem to derive some benefit from turning a blind eye.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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