Police step up patrols after quad bikes cause beauty spot damage
A STAFFORDSHIRE Moorlands beauty spot has been damaged.
Now police have stepped up patrols at the popular site after off-road vehicles churned up parts of the nature reserve.
Concerns have been raised over the damage at Marshes Hill Common in Brown Edge with reports of quad bikes and other offroad vehicles driving over parts of the land.
PCSO Sara Staples has called on residents to be vigilant and report any anti-social behaviour at the reserve. She said: “The damage was made even worse due to the wet weather we have experienced recently.
“We will be patrolling the area and looking to identify those responsible. It is a popular beauty spot and it is extremely disappointing to see it damaged.”
Marshes Hill is designated as a site of biological importance due to its important heathland animals and plants.
Councillor Mike Bowen, who has the responsibility for communities at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, welcomed local officers patrolling the area. He said: “This irresponsible behaviour is causing completely avoidable, and distressing, damage to this important local nature reserve and we cannot allow this to continue. I welcome the extra patrols.”
A PLAN to construct a new vehicular access to a property in Wetley Rocks has been refused.
Members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee have thrown out the proposal at Stanhopea on Mill Lane in Wetley Rocks - despite the applicant’s planning consultant informing councillors they had approved others in the area.
Full planning permission was sought for the formation of access to replace the existing access that is shared with the house to the southwest of the application site known as ‘Foxdale.’
A report to councillors said: “The house comprised inappropriate development in the Green Belt.
“However, the committee considered that special circumstances existed due to the owner’s need to live in proximity to his collection of orchids.”
A comment from the occupier of Foxdale said the existing shared access was dangerous, did not have good visibility and that there have been a number of near misses because of the poor visibility.
Cheddleton Parish Council supported the application, saying it should not have been turned down originally as other applications on the same road have been granted. Staffordshire County Council highway authority had no objection subject to conditions.
Councillor Ben Emery, said: “This is inappropriate development in the Green Belt.”
Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application.