Villagers’ joy as crane firm loses battle

RESIDENTS of a small Somerset village are celebrating after a local crane company lost its legal battle with the local council.

South West Crane Hire operates one of its depots on the former Creech Paper Mill site in the village of Creech St Michael near Taunton.

The company lodged an appeal following Somerset West and Taunton Council’s decision not to grant retrospective planning permission for the site back in December 2020.

But the Planning Inspectorate has now ruled against the company – much to the joy of the Mill Lane Residents Group, who have criticised the “totally inappropriate” size and timing of the cranes past their homes.

Planning inspector S. D. Castle acknowledged that the crane vehicles were of “significantly greater length” than the tankers which previously operated from the same base.

The Mill Lane Residents Group has welcomed the ruling.

A spokesman said: “We are very happy that the appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate; this was obviously a very positive result for the residents.

“The safety and well-being of the residents of Creech St Michael was always paramount. All parties including the inspectorate recognised this.”

“Now the company will need to either secure planning permission through a new application or dismantle its depot and relocate.

A spokesman for South West Crane Hire said: “The appeal is merely one step in an ongoing planning process.

“Even if we do eventually leave Mill Lane, there are still other cranes based there, and we hope that the residents realise that the removal of our cranes does not mean the removal of all cranes from Mill Lane.

“We have been around for the last 49 years, and will continue to employ local people and add to the development of our part of the country.”