By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A decision on the operations of a wood fuel production business co-run by a Newark councillor has been delayed after his fellow councillors were divided on the issue.
The business Councillor Roger Jackson (Con) owns alongside his son, which collects waste wood and transforms it into logs and chips, was said to have “undeniably harmed” countryside Green Belt land after an assessment from his own council’s planning officers.
Newark and Sherwood District Council assessed ‘Tricky Trees’ over concerns its expansion has encroached onto land beyond its existing planning permission.
They said the size of the business at Old Epperstone Road, Lowdham, had increased by around 50-60 per cent, a figure which Cllr Jackson disputes.
The applicants applied for retrospective planning permission to expand the business including a change of use of agricultural land.
But council officers argued that there were no special circumstances allowing the production to continue and that the harm is “demonstrable to the greenbelt”. They recommended that councillors refuse the application.
A number of councillors supported the applicants during the planning committee on February 15. Cllr Jackson is not a member of the planning committee.
Councillor Timothy Wendels (Con) ward member for the area, said: “The joint application, a young man who is passionate about making this business successful, has done everything possible to remove concerns previously expressed and has done everything for the right reasons.
“He moved the biomass boiler to a much more suitable location which solved the smoke smell issue.
“Unfortunately, in his enthusiasm to resolve any possible problems and secure the long term future of the business, the joint applicant overlooked that these improvements would require planning permission, which has led to this retrospective application.
“He acknowledges and regrets this mistake. I believe it would be a travesty to turn down this application.”
Councillor Sue Saddington (Con) added: “To me, the special circumstances are to keep this rural business going. I think that’s a good enough special circumstance.
“Here we have a wood chipping business in the countryside, hidden by trees, away from properties. Why on earth would we not approve it?”
Councillor Malcolm Brock (Lib Dem) said the application “does fly in the face of greenbelt policy”.
“Greenbelts are very precious, they are not there to be used on occasions that suit us and forgotten about on other occasions.”
Chair of the meeting councillor Roger Blaney (Con) said he had “difficultly” with supporting the plans.
Councillors voted against the recommendation to refuse the application.
A final decision on the plans was deferred to “seek clarification” on issues surrounding the application with Environmental Health.
