COUNCILLORS have overruled planning officers by approving a farm diversification scheme near Stokesley after months of negotiations.

The planning department of Hambleton council had been inundated with objections to a scheme put forward by Stokesley farmer Mr John Seymour for three ponds, one for fishing and two for conservation, at Dromonby Farm, Kirkby in Cleveland.

More than 100 telephone calls and 80 letters were received from two objectors, as well as a 113-name petition and 28 letters from other people who claimed the development would have a harmful impact on the surrounding countryside.

But Mr Seymour won support from the National Farmers' Union, which said the plan was in line with revised government policy on farm diversification and would help to safeguard the future of his remaining employees, and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.

Five other letters of support were received and the parish council thought the development had some environmental merit, although concerns remained that it could cause a nearby beck to dry up or flood.

Mr Seymour changed his plans after an original application for three ponds, a car park and landscaping was rejected 18 months ago because of its likely effect on the surrounding area.

Mr Maurice Cann, head of development control at Hambleton, told the latest meeting of the planning committee that Mr Seymour's new scheme had shifted slightly in favour of conservation and away from commercial angling.

Most of the objections were on technical grounds and the council had commissioned an independent engineer to consider them. A number of objectors had also engaged consultants to investigate the implications of the scheme.

Mr Cann said the positions of two ponds had been changed and only one of the three was now to be used for fishing, which had overcome some of the previous objections, mainly about the effect on a public footpath.

He said the position of the third pond on lower ground was considered satisfactory but concern remained about the two at a higher level.

He told the committee: "Ponds are natural features in the landscape and the council has supported many such schemes in recent years.

"Negotiations with the applicant have been lengthy and have clarified and satisfied concerns over a number of matters that were previously contentious.

"However, in the final analysis, given the topography and open nature of the site it is felt that ponds one and two would form an incongruous feature in the landscape and cannot be supported. It is not felt that further mitigation would render the scheme acceptable."

But Coun John Coulson drew parallels with other man-made ponds at Carlton Miniott and East Harlsey and said: "These farmers have got to diversify in the present climate and this applicant has gone out of his way to produce a good scheme."

Coun Arthur Barker said: "It is finely judged, but the applicant has taken on board a lot of matters which will ameliorate the situation and allow me to give my support. Over the years and very quickly I think the landscape will benefit, and conservation generally will."

Mr Seymour said later: "I was surprised by the planning officers' recommendation. Anyone is entitled to object, but we tried to re-engineer the scheme to overcome any objections.

"The Ministry of Agriculture gave detailed approval, the Environment Agency had no objections and all the other agencies were satisfied that the scheme would be enhancing the countryside, not damaging it. The FWAG was very involved in drawing up the plans.

"It is quite a large countryside stewardship scheme of which the ponds are a part and we are being encouraged to do this. There have been 13,000 ponds created in this country over the last ten years. Farmers are being encouraged to farm in a more sensitive way."

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