When plastic does not look that fantastic
Supermarkets sweep in with support for scheme
A large polytunnel development in Detling, near Maidstone
THE support of two supermar- kets for a massive polytunnels scheme could turn the Garden of England into the "Plastic of England". That is the warning of West
Peckham Parish Council chair- man Mark Freed after Marks & Spencer and Waitrose backed a controversial planning applica- tion by Hugh Lowe Farms, who also supply strawberries for the Wimbledon tennis fortnight. West Peckhan is one of sev-
eral parish councils objecting to the proposal, covering about 1,200 acres in total. Others in- clude Barming, Teston, Water- ingbury and East Peckham. More than 100 households in the area have also lodged objec- tions. But the supermarkets, which
both buy the company's soft fruit, have voiced strong sup- port for consent to be granted by Tonbridge and Malling Borough
Council. Meanwhile, opposi- tion is mounting in the commu- nities that overlook the "sea" of polytunnels. Mr Freed is not happy with
the intervention of M&S and Waitrose. "I'm not sure why na- tional organisations like them need to get involved in local planning issues. You would ex- pect them to look at both sides to the arguments." He said his parish council is
not against polytunnels as such. "If they are used - and required - for viable agriculture,we want them used proportionately, sympathetically, considerately and safely. And that seems to be entirely reasonable." But he added: "M&S andWaitrose have a lot of power behind them. Just to come out and say, 'we are supporting this because we like the applicant' is something you don't expect - and I'm a cus- tomer of both of them."
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HUGH Lowe Farms (HLF) has been supplying Marks & Spencer for more than 20 years. Hugh Mowat, technical manager of fresh produce for M&S,
said the business has a “long-standing record of leading stan- dards and demonstrating high responsibility”, with a third of its land managed for wildlife. The fruit from HLF “would be imported if these types of tun-
nels are not permitted in the English countryside (British straw- berry crops are not viable without rain protection).” Mr Mowat added: “The business has taken great care to en-
gage with local resident concerns, consider local environmen- tal impact and mitigate visual effect. The consequences of not allowing use of polytunnels will remove the viability of a tra- ditional part of Kent culture, which would be a national loss.” Meanwhile, Waitrose has bought HLF produce for a similar period because it is “outstanding”, said technical manager Alan Wilson. “This is not a word we use lightly. During our visits to the
farm we have seen numerous examples of care for biodiversity and a sympathetic approach to farming that minimises envi- ronmental impact.” He added: “The farm’s pioneering engage- ment in such initiatives as LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) is a great example.” MrWilson explained that polytunnels ensure a better quality product and a longer season. “This has enabled imports to be dramatically reduced during the summer and a productive trad- ing season from May until the autumn.” HLF's website states that Natural England has withdrawn its
objection to the planning application. "Its concerns were settled following a detailed analysis of the impact of our farming on the landscape," says HLF. "Kent Wildlife Trust was also satisfied that our way of farm-
ing using tunnels does not harmbiodiversity. The Environment Agency regarded our detailed Flood Risk Assessment as suffi- cient to withdraw its objections.”
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