Row over vandalism at controversial poultry farm
A row over vandalism has broken out in a hamlet where feelings are running high over agricultural development.
A mobile chicken shed at the poultry farm at the centre of the row in Woolley has been damaged twice in recent months.
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Agent Marc Willis of Golden Valley Paddocks, which bought the farm two years ago, said he believed vandals had entered the site at night and slashed the cover of one of the 10 sheds with a knife.
Mr Willis said the incidents proved that further security - including a permanent home - was needed at the site, but a campaign group calling for the sheds to be pulled down says the area is already secure enough.
Council planners have backed Mr Willis’s case that the sheds do not need planning permission - but have refused permission for a house at the Woolley Farm site.
He said: “It is clearly worrying that someone is prowling around the countryside at night, entering private land and, armed with a knife, causing criminal damage.
“The mobile units are covered with heavy duty nylon reinforced sheeting that has been slashed using a very sharp knife.”
He said the damage highlighted the need for a dwelling.
He said: “Whilst the damage will be covered by insurance, it underlines the need for the us to have someone staying on the site for security purposes.
“Staff have had to ask people who were trespassing on the land to leave the site on several occasions in recent weeks.”
The development of the sheds and a host of other work at the farm sparked the formation of the Save Woolley Valley Action Group, which says council officials are turning a blind eye to development that needs planning permission.
B&NES Council has served a stop notice on the land and no further construction has taken place.
SWVAG member Robert Craven said using the incidents to argue for more development was “a disgrace”.
“It looks like it is being used as an excuse, they already have big gates and barbed wire on the site.”
A police spokeswoman said officers had conducted house to house inquiries and analysed the crime scene.
She appealed for witnesses to contact Bath police on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
10 Comments
by Lloyd, Upper Swainswick
Monday, August 02 2010, 8:20PM
“Willis' comments are the proverbial black kettle and pot name calling. Lest we forget, Willis and GVP have: destroyed a protected species (White clawed crayfish) and their habitat, illegally disturbed a badgers sett, cut down protected trees, destroyed rare wild flowers, alienated a whole community and filled in a beautiful stream - to name a few atrocities.
So who is the vandal really?”
by Paul, Bath
Monday, August 02 2010, 4:06PM
“Damaging the sheds wouldn't serve anybody who is opposed to what Golden Valley Paddocks are doing. I don't think that it would come as a surprise to anyone if it was an insider who carried this out in a bid to strengthen GVP's 'case' for permanent development”
by Kirsten, Bath
Thursday, July 29 2010, 3:38PM
“Given the unscrupulous way in which Golden Valley has so far ignored planning rules, it's my opinion that the most likely suspects are employees of said company, trying to force through their wishes and blacken the name of the villagers of Woolley all in one fell swoop. Judging by Geoff's remark, they're doing all right in some quarters with aim Number 2.
Sorry, Mr Willis - you can fool some of the people some of the time, and you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool ALL of the people ALL of the time. This handy piece of vandalism is just a little bit too handy for my liking, and a complaint about it from someone who has vandalised this valley beyond belief is a bit rich.”
by Geoff, Bath
Thursday, July 29 2010, 1:53PM
“Toby Jones, Wooley wrote What a cynical manoeuvre! Robert Craven said a disgrace.
It's a bit rich tresspassing on someones property, causing criminal damage, and then complaining about how they react to it. Now, I don't have any evidence but lets face it, the SWVAG are more than prime suspects.”
by Robert Craven, Woolley
Thursday, July 29 2010, 9:03AM
“I thank Mr Willis for re-igniting the Woolley Valley story.
However to say
"¿A row over vandalism has broken out in a hamlet"
is not my view.
It takes two to row.
It is my opinion that using the incidents to argue for more development was ¿a disgrace¿. Simply my opinion.
I am sure that people will be reminded that the whole Woolley Valley development is still a contentious issue... five refused planning applications, enforcement and stop notices in place. Am I missing something?”
by Paul Wiltshire, Deputy editor
Thursday, July 29 2010, 8:09AM
“Cal: Robert Craven says Marc Willis's claims are a disgrace - that sounds like a bit of a row to me.
In answer to your second point, nowhere have we said there isn't someone staying overnight. It seemed to me that the point Mr Willis was making was that he wants a more permanent structure, although I'll leave him to clarify that if he feels the need. He is, as you well know, no shrinking violet.”
by Cal Francis, Woolley
Thursday, July 29 2010, 7:55AM
“I am amazed that the Chronicle sees this as newswrthy
1) "A row over vandalism has broken out".
Who, where, when?
2) 'He said: ¿it underlines the need for the us to have someone staying on the site for security purposes'.
...BUT there was already someone staying overnight...(without permission..., despite planning permission being refused!
This is not s story.”
by Toby Jones, Woolley
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 11:01PM
“What a coincidence that this happens just as a possible enforcement notice to remove the mobile home is being threatened by the planners! What a cynical manoeuvre!”
by Daisy Cutter, Bath
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 2:19PM
“Surely Bill you're not suggesting the chickens have tooled up with blades in a bid for freedom from the already vandalised valley?”
by Bill Shutter, Bathford
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:50PM
“Chicken run springs to mind :)”