Brogdale farm has promised to police its business more effectively after facing fierce opposition from neighbours over the latest changes to the site.
Council planners agreed to the installation of ten, five and six-meter single and double lights together with accompanying advertising banners in the main car park forecourt when they met to discuss the site in Ospringe, on Thursday, March 4.
Councillors also agreed to the conversion of a cold store to another business unit.
Fed-up neighbours appealed for the decision to be rejected saying their lives were made miserable enough by lights shining into their homes during the night and lorries coming and going at the early hours of the morning.
Community spokesman, Mrs Joan Toby, of Brogdale Farm, told planners occupants of the 47 neighbouring homes feared the farm was gradually being developed into a light industrial site.
She said: “There has been a steady flow of planning applications and there are now 22 business units operating from the site. The developer has also put in an application to develop 89 new homes. Lorries come and go until as late as 3am creating continual noise and halogen lights currently installed at the site are on all through the night shining into the homes of neighbours.
“Weekends are a particular problem for noise but of course no one is at Swale council to contact for help. The butcher of Brogdale has signs on the A2 advertising his business when the council forbade the cottage hospital from doing the same thing. There have even been helicopters landing and taking off and the noise is unacceptable.
“If we have to see the changes then please enforce the hours of business between 8am and 6pm and ensure the lights are turned off by 9pm.”
Developer Tony Hillier of Hillreed Homes pledged to uphold the terms of the planning agreement and enforce the operating hours of the farm to avoid disruption.
He said: “The lights have been designed to ensure minimum leakage. More than 15,000 visitors and thousands of children visit the site every year and it has become a major tourist attraction. It is our duty of care to ensure they can continue to do so safely. However, we will ensure the hours and conditions are policed rigorously.”
POSTED: 09/03/2010 15:00:00
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: