- Joined
- Sep 4, 2011
- Messages
- 5,937
- Reaction score
- 5,560
- Location
- Wiveliscombe
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 24
I'd not rely on what the planning officer has said on the phone in any way at all, not least because it's no real use as evidence. I'd try to keep everything in writing.
If there's an enforcement notice then I'd expect it to detail the nature of the problem. If it's that the planning officer doesn't accept that bees can be kept on agricultural land then I'd respond in writing referring to the part of the act that I mentioned earlier and explaining that as the bees will be producing food they appear to meet the conditions of agricultural use and that you see no reason for them to object to their presence.
If it says that they can't be kept on an area designated for equestrian use then that might be more tricky. More specialist advice would probably be required. I imagine a lot of beekeepers might inadvertently find themselves in the same boat, never having considered that there could be an issue.
On the other hand, if the enforcement notice isn't totally specific I'd reply asking for a full explanation of the reasons that the enforcement notice has been issued and see what they come back with.
It's entirely possible that the notice has been issued by a planning officer who doesn't understand the situation. My experience of their "services" is far from positive. I've had an application turned down by one planning officer only to be told by another working in the same office (who worked on a modified resubmitted application) that they could see no reason for the refusal and if they had dealt with it they would have approved it without an issue. At times it does appear to be a complete lottery.
James
If there's an enforcement notice then I'd expect it to detail the nature of the problem. If it's that the planning officer doesn't accept that bees can be kept on agricultural land then I'd respond in writing referring to the part of the act that I mentioned earlier and explaining that as the bees will be producing food they appear to meet the conditions of agricultural use and that you see no reason for them to object to their presence.
If it says that they can't be kept on an area designated for equestrian use then that might be more tricky. More specialist advice would probably be required. I imagine a lot of beekeepers might inadvertently find themselves in the same boat, never having considered that there could be an issue.
On the other hand, if the enforcement notice isn't totally specific I'd reply asking for a full explanation of the reasons that the enforcement notice has been issued and see what they come back with.
It's entirely possible that the notice has been issued by a planning officer who doesn't understand the situation. My experience of their "services" is far from positive. I've had an application turned down by one planning officer only to be told by another working in the same office (who worked on a modified resubmitted application) that they could see no reason for the refusal and if they had dealt with it they would have approved it without an issue. At times it does appear to be a complete lottery.
James