SIR,

My name is Peter Morris, owner of Steppes Farm, adjoining landowner to Whitehall Farm, Rockfield, Monmouth.

Farmers across the UK know how formidable green belt planning regulations can be. The countryside is guarded jealously; protected with stringent restrictions as to what can be built and where.

It is very surprising that the application submitted by Brian Edwards of Whitehall Farm, for a dwelling in a greenfield site some 1.5 miles from his property, and adjacent to mine, has sailed through the planning process. 

He has been granted planning permission for development of a retirement complex, despite objections from the local community council, the highways officer and members of the public.

Mr Edwards' planning application was submitted to the community council, which recommended it for refusal. When the local council learnt that planning permission had subsequently been granted there was considerable upset and Gerard Davies resigned over the issue, citing it as "double standards".

When I asked the county council why local views were seemingly ignored, they cited the reason that "the revised TAN6 could be a topic the community council may lack knowledge in".

It should be noted that Ruth Edwards, wife of the applicant, is currently chair of the Planning Committee which granted approval for the new build. She is also a Conservative county councillor and sits on the Delegated Powers Committee which is the first port of call for all planning applications.

Applications for buildings on a farm are frequently given planning permission, provided the proposed buildings are close to the farm itself. While Mr and Mrs Edwards are part owners of a house within the cartilage of Whitehall Farm it is odd that the application is for a building on a distant site.

Most farmers would assume any application for a new build that is not adjacent to the farmyard would be flatly refused. If new builds on greenfield sites are now permitted farmers and landowners will doubtless be queuing to apply.

A formal planning complaint has been submitted to councillors and government officers involved in the planning process. It suggests that there have been numerous departures from normal practice in the treatment of the application by Mr Edwards and that such departures fly in the face of current policy.

I write this letter as a heads up to councillors and the general public that all may not be as it should be within the Planning Department.

For more information, telephone me on 01600 775424.

Peter Morris

(Monmouth)