Plans will create ‘a goldfish bowl effect for our gardens’
VILLAGERS are fighting plans to build a new cafe and shop at a farm near a popular walking and cycling trail in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
The owners of Brown End Farm, off the A523 in Waterhouses, plan to demolish an existing outbuilding and replace it with a new shop and cafe - as well as new cycle hire facilities for the farm’s existing business.
The farm lies near one end of the popular Manifold Trail, with the owners believing the plans would provide important facilities for those using the eight mile route between Hulme and Waterhouses.
A number of people living near the farm have lodged objections to the plan.
Rachel Buxton said she had concerns about increased traffic and parking - as well as the impact on another tea room in the area.
She said: “By accepting an application for a cafe at Brown End, you will have a drastically negative effect on an existing business, being Lea House Tea Rooms, a mile down the Manifold Trail.
“My main concern though is the parking situation. No plans have been included for additional parking at the site, which is already insufficient for the footfall that it currently has.
“Roadside parking will become more common, which will completely invade the neighbouring properties privacy, creating a goldfish bowl effect for our gardens.
“It will also cause a traffic hazard in an area of the village where road users speed up after going through the last speed camera, in anticipation of the 50 mile an hour speed limit, leaving the village towards Ashbourne.
“I fully support the owners tidying up the existing buildings and improving their business but not at the cost of the existing businesses of the village, or the residents nearby.”
John Swann added that while he welcomed the demolition and erection of a new building he did not see the need for the plans.
In his objection he added: “There are already established businesses catering for tourist within Waterhouses, these include Riverside cafe/chip shop, the Crown Inn and the small village shop all of which serve light refreshments.
“The Manifold trail again has cafes along the way including the Lea House Tea Room and Gardens which is approximately a mile from Brown End Farm which will severely suffer by this proposal if planning permission is granted.”
However not everyone in the area has voiced objections to the plans.
Adam Parkinson said he was supporting the plans, saying he thought they were a ‘brilliant’ idea that would ‘encourage much needed tourism into the area and provide local employment in the village.’
He added: “The extra facilities will encourage more people to become more active and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Manifold Valley and its surrounding area bringing extra income to local businesses. It will be an amenity for the village which at present doesn’t have a cafe.”
In their design and access statement, Brown End Farm’s owners said the plans would create a number of new jobs at the farm, that also hosts two holiday lets: “The Authority can achieve enhancement whilst supporting the improvement and expansion of an existing, well establish tourism service business located in a prominent position at the start of the Manifold Trail.”
A decision on the application is expected to be made by early March.