Council planners pull the reins on businesswoman's pony parties plan for grazing field in Chesterfield
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Stacey Barnett, who runs Unicorn Pony Parties Ltd, submitted an application to the borough council for planning permission for change of use of agricultural land at Broomhill Road, Old Whittington for her business. Miss Barnett sought consent to build a timber function room and install a storage unit and a portable cabin toilet on the site.
Her application resulted in 37 letters of support and 11 letters of objection from members of the public to the council.
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Hide AdJanice Wilkinson wrote: “What a wonderful idea/project for all the young children in and around the local area, we need many more things for young children to enjoy and older ones to get involved and learn about caring and handling of horses of all sizes.”


Louise Turner commented: “Unicorn Pony Parties is an absolutely fantastic company that provides joy to all involved.”
Peter Wilson, who opposed the application, said: “This is green belt land on one of the highest points in Chesterfield with a public footpath, with views to the crooked spire and beyond, likewise can be seen from the crooked spire and beyond. Any change to this green belt land will change the view, access and the wider community. To allow the business involving horse riding on land so steep would at the very least be dangerous. The land borders Broomhill Road, one of the busiest roads in the area where commercial/heavy goods vehicles are diverted to avoid low bridges; this is a road littered with the bodies of wild animals and cats on a frequent basis. To allow building, children, horse riding etc on this land would be extremely dangerous and foolish.”
The council’s planning committee refused the application on the following grounds: The proposal is considered to harm the function and openness of the Green Belt, resulting in encroachment into the countryside with visual and spatial harm to the site and Green Belt setting;
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Hide Ad*Insufficient information has been provided to assess the highway safety and parking impacts of the proposed development;
*Insufficient information has been provided to fully assess the impact of the development in order to demonstrate that the proposed use will not result in harm to the amenity of neighbouring residents”
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