Planning chiefs end farm frustrations

VICTORY: Nigel Hadfield at the Well-i-hole farm site — permission granted for permanent caravans

AN overjoyed farmer has settled a planning wrangle that threatened his long-standing family home and business.

Nigel Hadfield is “overwhelmed with relief” now the Planning Inspectorate has granted him permission to install nine caravan pitches at his Well-i-Hole Farm site in Greenfield, ending a saga that began in 2011.

Nigel, the third generation of the Hadfield family to own the farm, has battled Oldham Council, local residents and a planning inspectorate error to get the all-year-round pitches he believes are vital to the farm’s financial future.

“It’s been going on so long my dad didn’t think he’d live to see it happen,” said Nigel, whose grandfather William first took on the farm in 1923.

“We are very happy and pleased with the outcome but it’s been hard fought for and it’s not been without cost. It has been very stressful and very expensive fighting this but we really needed it both for our customers and to diversify and secure the future of the farm.

“It’s not a farm as such any more — we have 55 lambing ewes and 15 pigs — it’s more of a hobby, but one we take seriously.

“In the summer we have the touring caravans but in the winter we have no income. Not to have these residential pitches would have been catastrophic for the business.

“I’ve got thank Oldham Council who have helped us along with this in the last 12 months, despite originally objecting. I’m grateful to them, I think they could see the frustration of where we were at and how it was dragging down the business.”

Oldham Council turned down the application in 2013 on the ground that it could jeopardise tourism on the rest of the site.

Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association objected, citing traffic issues and condemning the site as “an eyesore”.

News the pitches are to go ahead was greeted with disappointment from objectors.

A spokesman for Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association said: “We are appalled by the planning process and the way it’s taken so long to come up with a decision. If he complies with the requirements and conditions there shouldn’t be a problem.

“Steps have taken to improve the site. It is a lot better than it was but we are still gravely concerned about access on to the main road.”

Nigel says he’s now keen to get on with developing the pitches and is already making improvements including investing £10,000 in a new electricity supply.

He believes the site is vital for the local tourism economy and says last year the touring site played host to 2,500 children from around the country on Duke of Edinburgh, sea cadet and adventure holiday trips.

The farm is set to host the Saddleworth Show in June.