Councillors give go-ahead for farm shop growth
Owners of Fielders Farm Shop criticise planning process after lengthy battle to expand business
THE owner of a farm shop in Theale has criticised West Berkshire Council’s planning process after a lengthy battle to expand his business.
The owner of Fielders Farm Shop, Wickcroft Farm, Tom Newey, had planning permission granted at the third attempt during a recent meeting of the West Bekshire Council planning and development committee.
The application sought to amend and re-use a number of derelict farm buildings on the site in Pangbourne Road to increase the shop’s size, add storage space and also a café.
The plans follow two separate applications to expand the shop, in 2013 and 2014, which were subsequently withdrawn.
However, West Berkshire Council officers advised councillors that the plans should be refused despite the most recent application receiving no objections.
In their report planning officers said that said there were concerns over creating an enlarged retail unit in the open countryside which could in theory be used by a non-farm related retailer in the future such as a Tesco or Sainsbury's.
It was also pointed out that the shop, which opened 12 years ago, then under different ownership, had originally agreed that at least 50 per cent of its goods would come from Wickcroft Farm.
However due to a change in farming practices the shop no longer sells any produce from the Farm.
Despite this councillors voted almost unanimously to pass the plans and grant planning permission.
The delay in having his proposal accepted lead a frustrated Mr Newey to brand the process as "nonsense".
He said: "70 per cent of our stock comes from within 30 miles of the shop meaning that around £350,000 goes directly back into the local economy.
"And if we hit our fairly conservative targets forecasts show that will double to £750,000 if we're allowed to grow."
Mr Newey also pointed out that the expansion would create 15 new jobs in addition to the five current memebrs of staff.
Mr Newey added: "I'm feeling very positive about it now that we have got the approval but I was thoroughly disheartened and incredibly frustrated by the planning system.
"It's taken us four years to get this no brainer of a decision through.
"It will be a massive benefit to the local economy and I'm looking forward to getting the project started.
"However I am planning on writing to the local MP to inform him this so that hopefully we can help to stop others having to go through the same nonsense in the future."
Fielders Farm Shop currently sells a range of locally produced goods including fresh bread, fruit, vegetables, meat and cheese and is open 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.