100 signatures reached
To: HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL
STOP THE POLYTUNNELS @ OCLE PYCHARD HEREFORDSHIRE
We urge you to stop the spread of 'polyblight' by refusing planning permission for yet another, industrial-scale polytunnel development that will benefit neither the local community nor the environment.
Why is this important?
Planning permission has been applied for to build 91 acres of permanent and seasonal white plastic polytunnels in Ocle Pychard. The face of the beautiful green county of Herefordshire is slowly being wrapped in plastic, turning it into an industrial wasteland for yet more strawberry production. The application also includes a settlement to house 330 itinerant workers.
The people who live in this tranquil and rural area - many of whom are elderly, and have lived their whole lives here - now face the prospect of being surrounded, their rural views being replaced by 5.2m high polythene structures.
There will be negligible benefit to the local residents and businesses, as these farms operate as independent, isolated and self-contained communities. This development only benefits the owner, who doesn't even live here.
Noise pollution, light pollution, loss of biodiversity and natural habitats, the effect on leisure and tourism, increased heavy traffic on the roads ... the impact of such a development is massive. Combine that with the damage to the wellbeing and peace of mind of the people who live here, and you have to ask whether it's really worth it.
Each such development that is granted permission by the council paves the way for the next development. When will it end? Will the rural counties of the UK disappear under oceans of plastic as Almeria in Spain has?
If you feel strongly that this type of exploitation of our countryside should not be allowed please object to this application now.
