Council refuses new farm access road near Chaddleworth

West Berkshire Council has refused a proposal for a new road.

Heads Farm Partnership submitted an application to determine whether prior approval was required for a new 260-metre by four-metre wide private road to improve access to its land north of Buckham Hill.

But the council has refused to grant planning permission.

It said: “Part of the road would be approximately 14 metres north of the Buckham Hill C-road, and the total ground area of the road would be 1,040 metres.

“Therefore, the proposed road would be within 25 metres of a metalled part of a classified road, and the ground area would exceed 1,000 square metres, and as such is not permitted.”

It added a full application is required.

The applicant deemed the proposal necessary, saying the area of the farm requires regular access.

They wrote: “The track will predominantly be used by farm vehicles and machinery.

“It forms part of a working farm and provides access to several fields from the public road.

“The specification and width of the track is intended for agricultural use.”

The appeal status of the application is as yet unknown.