THE OWNER of a chicken farm near a protected area nature beauty has been given a second enforcement notice.
The former Chorleywood parish councillor Jack Biel was first given notice to remove the Graciel Field chicken farm on Latimer Road in October last year.
Buckinghamshire Council feared ammonia from chicken manure could 'adversely affect the natural environment', such as the nearby River Chess and ancient Coney Wood woodland.
He has since appealed the notice ordering him to remove egg production units and feed silos, which will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate, Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for planning and regeneration Peter Strachan confirmed.
“The use of the land at the property is not a breach of planning control, as it’s referring to the buildings, not the use. This means that the council can’t stop the land being used for farming purposes, as it’s not unlawful," he added.
Now the council has issued another enforcement notice for a mobile home stationed at the site in the Chilterns AONB.
The enforcement notice said: “The mobile home contrasts sharply with the smooth rolling valley side with its softer verdant and rural character. The mobile home has had a detrimental adverse urbanising effect on the site. This has harmed the site's rural appearance and the development appears overly strident and obtrusive. It has also harmed the riverside landscape around the River Chess, which is a tranquil and rural environment.”
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Because the site sits within the Green Belt, a change of use of the land to mixed use was unauthorised.
The latest enforcement notice takes effect in March unless it is appealed.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We give advice on protecting the environment to organisations inside and outside government all the time, but decisions to grant or reject planning applications are a matter for local authorities.
“Any concerns about suspected pollution of the River Chess or any waterway can be reported to our 24-hour incident hotline: 0800 807060.”
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