Thousands of residents rejoiced after unpopular plans for a rabbit farm near Amersham were thrown out by Buckinghamshire Council.
The council opted against T&S Nurseries’ application to build a 250-doe, free-range rabbit production unit at Magpie Lane, Coleshill, last month.
The decision came after nearly 90,000 people signed a petition to have the plans thrown out. There were also hundreds of written objections in the planning application’s comments.
In a letter explaining the decision, Bucks Council said: “The applicant has not presented an adequate case to establish why the business must be located on this land, and why a more suitable, less-constrained site was not chosen.
“Alternatively, it has not been demonstrated that there is a demand for this proposal in this location. Notwithstanding the economic benefits of the scheme, these are not considered to outweigh the harm identified.
“Consequently, the proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the green belt, which is harmful by definition.”
T&S Nurseries owner, Phil Kerry, previously insisted he wasn’t concerned by the community’s backlash to the plans, saying: “Over five million people live in South West England, Rebecca’s got 80,000 – it’s not very good.
“It’s very easy to get friends, neighbours and family to sign something that people are completely indifferent to.”
Amersham resident, Rebecca Nicholson, who started the petition, was in a celebratory mood after the decision.
She said: “We did it! I would like to thank each and every one of you for signing. Phil Kerry said to me: ‘85,000 signatures is a bit pathetic really’ – well, didn’t we prove him wrong.
“This man wants to open countless more farms across the UK, so if you see another petition, please make sure to sign and support them too.”
Photo credit: Compassion in World Farming.
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