Brewery boss appeal on electric bike park

The boss of Bathams Brewery today said he will appeal against rejection of his plans for an electric bike park near a Midlands' beauty spot.

Tim Batham says the park he wanted to open on farmland near Kinver Edge would have created jobs and boosted tourism.

The scheme to create a track at Compton Worwood Farm in Beacon Lane was thrown out on the grounds it was an unsuitable development in the green belt.

In a written statement Tim Batham said he was disappointed and angry at the ruling.

He said: "Electric bikes make no noise, create no emissions and cause no pollution.

"They are the bikes of the future that we can bring here right now, bikes with no environmental impact, and no noise nuisance to anyone.

"There is absolutely no comparison with petrol bikes and motocross events."

Around 50 letters of objection were lodged with South Staffordshire District Council with many raising concerns about an increase in traffic using narrow lanes.

Mr Batham, who owns the land, said the park would only have been used on a pre-book basis so there would not have been crowds of people arriving at the site.

"We were expecting the park to provide a real boost to the economy" added Mr Batham. "Bringing fun, jobs and income to the area but with none of the disruptions normally associated with what would have been an amazing new venture for this area. It is a great shame, and we shall seek to appeal."

The announcement comes after campaigners said they were delighted by the refusal of the scheme.

But they also said they were braced for an appeal and pledged to launch a fresh fight to block the plan.

They are opposed to the park because they say it would ruin an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Among campaigners is retired office manager, Margaret Knott, who walks her son's golden retriever dogs in the area known locally as the Sheepwalks every day.

Mrs Knott, aged 67, of Newfield Drive, Kingswinford, previously said: "When I get there it is like being in heaven, the peace and tranquility is wonderful.

"There is so much wildlife, you see hares and birds and if this plan goes ahead it will be an environmental disaster.

"The noise will be terrible whether they are electric bikes or not."

Kinver Parish Council is opposed to the scheme which it says would be an "intrusion and unacceptable" development in the green belt.

Gloucester-based Quantyaparx, which will supply the bikes, said that the park would be the first one in the UK.