Work on Thurstaston farm sparks anger

Apr 16 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

BUILDINGS on green belt land in Thurstaston have sparked a furious row between a farmer and his neighbours.

Gerry White, owner of Dawpool and Lee Farm, in Station Road, Thurstaston, applied in 2002 to build an agricultural building, but after permission was granted he built a farm shop, which deviated from original plans.

Neighbours and action groups were angered when an extension and a car park was added to the shop without planning permission.

An enforcement notice to remove the extension, car park and UPVC windows in the shop was put to Mr White.

He appealed and must now reduce the car park and remove the extension on his shop.

Mr White has since applied for retrospective planning permission to keep the entire car park and extension - which Wirral Council said is likely to be refused.

The farm shop itself is immune from enforcement action because it is more than four years old.

Mr White, who has owned this 95 hectares of land for 25 years, said: “I am constantly attacked with letters about my shop and barns.

“These letters say I have no animals on my farm.

“I have 100 Aberdeen Angus cattle, chickens, pigs, sheep, race horses and 3,000 bales of hay - in the winter I need somewhere to store them.

“I also want to sell my stock in my farm shop, which is a good thing for Wirral.”

Keith Rippin, White’s Farm manager, said: “People who come to our farm shop know where their meat comes from - your big supermarket meat could come from anywhere.”

Sybil Ferguson, who lives nearby, said: “Mr White’s land is being built on at a rapid rate with huge structures that can be seen for miles around.

“There are many people who think these buildings are ruining our landscape.”

A spokesman for Wirral Council said: “We have taken enforcement action regarding the unlawful developments at Dawpool Farm.

“Our planning enforcement team requires the help and knowledge of residents to alert them to any unauthorised developments.”