COUNCILLORS have approved one of the biggest polytunnel schemes in the Herefordshire’s history.

Bosses at Oakchurch Fruit Farm have won a retrospective bid to cover 200 hectares around Stauntonon- Wye.

Plans to erect and rotate polytunnels on four sites between Bishopstone and Brobury were approved last week.

The permission allows the soft fruit growers to legally cover around half their total hectarage at any time.

The sites range from 23 and 33 hectares at Oakchurch and Brobury Farm to 100 around Norton Canon.

Both were unanimously approved but plans to cover 57 hectares at Bishopstone were more controversial.

Councillors heard that Oakchurch provided vital jobs and was crucial to the local economy with a rising £2.8 million turnover.

The applicants said they could not grow their quality fruit without the tunnels and had received no local complaints.

Councillor Chris Chappell said the economic and community benefits of the scheme outweighed any environmental concerns.

The only serious complaints came from Bishopstone villagers with regards to the noise and litter generated by the Bishops Court site.

They included issues with crop-spraying, early morning activity and lorries using narrow country lanes.

Opponents were criticised by Coun Josie Pemberton for “suffering in silence”

and for failing to talk to the applicants.

à Plans for a single polytunnel and access road opposite the Bell Inn in Tillington were also approved despite local opposition.

Coun Sally Robertson criticised plans to remove a hedge for access onto the “dangerous” Roman Road to Credenhill.