Council Approves Farm Building Despite Paralympian Sir Lee Pearson’s Concerns

Paralympic gold medallist Sir Lee Pearson was unsuccessful in his opposition to proposals for a farm building located in the Staffordshire countryside, a development he expressed concern could alarm his horses. The 14-time Paralympic dressage champion articulated worries that the animals might be startled by sounds emanating from the planned construction at Basford Hall, a Grade II listed property situated close to Cheddleton. He was among a group of 12 local residents who formally opposed the application for the agricultural storage building. During a meeting of the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council held on Tuesday, councillors cast votes in favour of approving the plans. The planned structure is designed to measure 445 square metres (4,790 sq ft) in area and reach a height of 8.5m (27 ft). Its intended purpose is for storing agricultural machinery, including tractors and trailers, along with as much as 20 tonnes of woodchip, which will serve as fuel for the estate’s pair of biomass boilers. Sir Lee indicated that he utilizes adjacent land, located at his parents’ residence, for training in preparation for international equestrian events. He stated: “I have huge concerns over my horses being spooked by the proximity of the proposed building and the noise that is likely to come from there.” In addition to submitting his individual objection, Sir Lee also endorsed a collective letter from local residents that opposed the proposals. The correspondence outlined various apprehensions, such as insufficient details regarding the building’s intended function, the effect on heritage assets, the possibility of increased tree felling on the property, and the concern that the proposal might establish a precedent for subsequent development. Nevertheless, planning officers deemed the development permissible, given that the proposal was associated with rural activities. Their official report noted that although the applicant stated no machinery operation was intended, the residents’ worries about noise were considered justifiable. A condition was recommended by them to regulate and prevent excessive noise disturbance. Planning officer Arne Swithenbank commented that while the structure carried the risk of being conspicuously visible within the rural landscape, it was not considered “overbearing” from the building. He added that the scheme was deemed acceptable with appropriate landscaping. This report was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, an entity that covers local councils and various other public service organizations. For updates, follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.