Highmoor Farm heathland support area refused by councillors

Members of BCP Council‘s planning committee narrowly voted to go against the recommendation of the authority’s planning case officer in relation to Talbot Village Trust’s proposal for Highmoor Farm.

Talbot Village Trust was seeking permission to create a heathland support area, which would convert the 30 acres of farmland into a publicly-accessible park.

More than 200 residents submitted objections to the proposal and a narrow majority on the committee supported their opposition and rejected the scheme.

When asked by committee chair Cllr David Kelsey to identify the harm the scheme would have, Councillor Tony Trent, who proposed the move to refuse the application, said: “I think the harm of it is it will intensify public use of the area, including the areas of heathland around it.

Cllr Tony Trent

“It will act as a magnet for more visitors and users than it would do if it is left as it is.”

Councillor Kelsey said the application was in line with the local plan.

“I think personally we will struggle at an appeal, which is why I will not be supporting this (refusal),” said Cllr Kelsey.

“I do not think that the harm here outweighs the benefits we will be getting.”

The motion to refuse the application was passed with eight votes in favour and five against at the meeting on Tuesday, May 24.

Talbot and Branksome Woods ward councillors Karen Rampton and Philip Broadhead called for the application to be deferred.

Councillor Rampton said she agreed with the concerns of residents, with a 3,600-signsature position and 232 written objections filed to the planning committee.

She said the level of response reflected the “very real fears” that the application means the end of the last working farm in the area after decades of farming use and food production.

Cllr Karen Rampton (Image: BCP Council)

Councillor Broadhead said there were too many questions that still needed to be answered.

Many residents had voiced fears the application was a precursor to subsequent proposals for a business park on a neighbouring site.

Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, chairman of Talbot Village Trust, said the trustees of the charity were driven by the single purpose of making a positive impact on the local region.

“At its heart, this is about protecting the environment and providing an additional public amenity space, so turning over what is private land into public space for community wellbeing,” Mr Ashley-Cooper said.

“The trust takes the environment incredibly seriously and we are very keen to help support the heathland and the important biodiversity that is contained within this.

“We are doing this as a standalone project – it is not linked to any other.”

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