IT IS with dismay that I have ploughed through the appeal decision on the cafe and deli facilities at Rectory Farm, Stanton St John (30 pages). I have to agree with the superb letter from Charlotte Creasey (September 6) outlining the wonderful facilities and community benefits of the farm shop, deli and café.
I live locally and have enjoyed, with many thousands of others, visiting Rectory Farm this summer. What a plus to have everything on one site and to see such a clean, well-run and safe environment. For locals, it is a great chance to meet with others and for those from further afield a lovely place to visit.
Penny and Graham Corbett run a superb outdoor cafe and deli with pretty tables and lovely food. There seems scant solid evidence of impact on the village shop (surely a different set of customers).
As far as I can see, none of the site has a huge, visual impact. The traffic does not go through the village and there is no noise or litter.
It would have been admirable if the planners had awarded retrospective planning permission for the whole site in recognition of the enterprise and insight into the needs of the community, rather than obsessive adherence to planning laws. The contryside needs places like this.
Perhaps the planners should have had an ‘away day’ to Rectory Farm. I’m sure that they would have enjoyed it.
VICKY MOORE
New Road
Beckley
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