Staffordshire fruit farms allowed to keep polytunnels

Two Staffordshire fruit farms will be able to keep their controversial polytunnels after council bosses said it was vital to protect the multi-million pound businesses.

Leese Farm and Dearnsdale Farm, based near Stafford, and farmed by T.W. Busby and Sons, generate more than £6m for the economy.

They both have Spanish-style polytunnels in place that residents claimed ruined their view. Dearnsdale produces 2,000 tons of strawberries every year – if these were not grown in the UK they would be replaced by imports.

Last night, Stafford Borough Council's planning committee gave permission for the retention of the polytunnels at the Billington sites.

John Heath, speaking for the farms, said: "Home produced food has dropped by 15 per cent in the last 20 years. The message is we have got to make British food and make it happen."

Despite concerns about mud and water on the roads close by, members of the planning committee agreed on the contribution the farms made to the British market .

The polytunnels at Leese Farm will rotate on land at the site up until 2016 but will be removed beyond this date. The polytunnels at Dearnsdale will also be in place up to 2016 but will end up in a fixed position around the main farm building in 2017.

Councillor Mark Winnington, who called in the application with concerns about flooding, litter and mud, said: "We are not self-sufficient in food. We really should be supporting food production where we can."

Councillor Barry Stamp added: "Of all the residents I have spoken to, no-one is rejecting to the polytunnels per se. People were aware of the polytunnels when they bought their properties."

Councillor Ann Edgeller said: "It's fantastic we can get soft fruit most of the year and this is only until 2016.

"I would like to think we can support it."

By Richard Woodall