Road widening plan outside Medomsley farm refused by council

Plans to widen a road near a County Durham farm have been refused. <i>(Image: GOOGLE)</i>
Plans to widen a road near a County Durham farm have been refused. (Image: GOOGLE)
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Plans to widen a road outside a County Durham farm have been refused because of doubts about the land's current use.

The application, made by Barry Renwick for High Bradley Farm on Pithouse Lane, Medomsley, sought alterations to an existing access road with the addition of two passing places.

Barry Renwick, represented by Mrs Francelita Balbido, proposed the passing places to improve traffic flow, protect verges, and prevent road edge damage from heavy machinery.

The road was said to be used by farm workers and visitors.

However, council officers refused the application after a fast-track assessment.

Officers assessed the application under guidelines which only deal with engineering works on agricultural land of 5 hectares or more and must be "reasonably necessary for agriculture".

A report found the applicant failed to prove that the specific plot of land was in active agricultural use, as the applicant himself cited it as not being used for farming in a previous application.

The plot was also claimed to have not been farmed since 1999.

Durham County Council officially refused planning permission on March 9.

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