Lorry park bid at farm is driven out (From Thurrock Gazette)

Lorry park bid at farm is driven out

6:30am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News

A FARM in Corringham has been served with an enforcement notice after a planning application to use land there as a lorry park was thrown out.

The owners of Cawder Hall Farm, in Southend Road, Corringham, which is in the green belt, had hoped to continue using an area of hardstanding to store and distribute lorry trailers.

Residents raised strong objections to the plans, believing lorries using the site might cause damage to nearby propertie, not built to withstand large vehicles thundering past.

They were also concerned that Southend Road is unsuitable for lorries and said the park would damage the green belt.

Homesteads ward councillor James Halden spoke out against the application. He argued that, despite the need for jobs and lorry storage in Thurrock, should the development be given the green light “what green belt areas in the borough would be safe?”

Debating the application, Charlie Curtis, Labour councillor for Belhus, said: “The council is currently waiting on an application for the same thing in Belhus, where a company has just ploughed into our green belt, which is absolutely appalling. So I’m not going to sit here now and support this. I’d be a hypocrite.”

Afterwards, Cllr Halden said: “Councillors worked hard on Thurrock’s core strategy and the local development plan, to outline what kind of development is acceptable in Homesteads.

“The policies are designed to ensure that big, sensible and important developments can take place, but protect local communities from damage from ill thought through plans.

“Homesteads is rightly protected from overdevelopment, and building on the green belt. I am delighted the planning committee once again defended our constituents and our ward.

“We thank our many constituents, as always, for contacting us. The enforcement action at Cawder Hall Farm will be a big blow to those who think that planning policy can be ignored. As local councillors, we will always defend our community.”