THE owners of a farm near Chipping Sodbury have won permission to continue operating an animal care college.
South Gloucestershire councillors were told that Peopleton Brook Farm provides a “lifeline” education for teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities, offering post-16 qualifications in animal care and life skills lessons.
But the site only had permission for agricultural use, so the owners made a retrospective planning application to the council to use the site as a “care farm”.
It led to a row over road safety on Mill Lane, a narrow country track with few passing places, large potholes and frequent floods which is the only access to the site.
One resident told the council’s development management committee today that he had been threatened with legal action for objecting to the plans, while the farm’s manager said neighbours hadn’t shared their concerns with him.
To assuage concerns the farm’s owners will install a new passing place, run minibuses and cap student numbers.
‘Threatening letters’
Neighbours objected to the plans because of a “traffic explosion” since the pandemic.
They claimed there had been car crashes and road rage along Mill Lane.
Speaking to the committee, local resident Chris Wood said: “The only contact we’ve had were threatening letters from the applicants’ solicitor, demanding that we remove our complaints from the [council’s] planning portal or face legal action.
“The lane is narrow with blind bends and only one official passing place.
“It’s not suitable as a primary access route to an education facility.
“Visitors to the site are clearly not familiar with country lanes and are unable to complete the manoeuvres required.
“There have been two recent crashes on the lane. PBF is in the wrong location.”
He added that councillors did visit the site, but this was during half term, so they didn’t see the full impact of the traffic.
Mr Wood also raised concerns that the council uses the college to educate some children in South Gloucestershire, creating fears of a conflict of interest in granting planning permission.
‘Vital lifeline’
The farm provides an education for teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities, and was described by parents as a “vital lifeline”.
Around 25 pupils are taught there at any one time.
Had councillors refused permission, it could have lead to the farm having to shut down or relocate.
Farm manager Jake Payne said: “We’ve listened carefully to the concerns raised by local residents, even though these weren’t shared with us directly.
“In response we’ve taken several steps. The local authority has resurfaced the road and cleared the ditches.
“A passing place will be installed on our land. Student numbers will be capped at 25.
“From September we will also run two 15-seat minibuses to further reduce vehicle movements along the lane.
“We’re not looking to grow beyond our capacity – we simply want to continue delivering the work that we do in a safe, regulated and respectful way.”
Councillors voted 8-1 in favour of granting the application.
They noted that the council’s transport department was responsible for maintaining the roads, rather than the farm, but there is a lack of cash affecting the maintenance of country lanes across the district.
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service