Wonderful news from Jolly Olde England
Organic farming just took a hit in England. Talk about government by the unfit.
From the UK
Telegraph:
Organic farmer evicted while gipsies are allowed to stay
Planners have been accused of making a "peculiar and outrageous" decision to evict Tina Johnston, 42, who has built a modest business growing fruit and vegetables on her 30-acre smallholding near Box, Wiltshire, a village on the A4 midway between Chippenham and Bath.
She moved into a caravan on the plot, situated on greenbelt land, in 2004 with the hope of convincing planners of the need to live there.
Despite support from villagers, her application has just been refused.
She and daughter Grace, nine, now face having to live in a 25ft horsebox on nearby non-greenbelt land.
Newly-formed Wiltshire Council has given Ms Johnston until this morning (Tues) to vacate her home or face a �20,000 fine. She also faces having to sell her business to cover �10,000 in legal fees.
Yet six months ago a Government planning inspector granted a group of 16 traveller families permission to stay indefinitely on a three-acre field elsewhere in Wiltshire, that they had illegally occupied in 2003.
After buying the field in Minety, near Wootton Bassett, for �80,000 in cash, they moved in over the August bank holiday weekend � when local councils were not working.
Within days they had dug trenches for power and water supplies, laid roads and built bungalows.
North Wiltshire District Council refused retrospective planning permission � but a Government planning inspector overturned its decision in 2005.
Disgusting abuse of power -- all "planners" should be shot...
Posted by DaveH at April 14, 2009 8:43 AM