Locals complained the narrow country lane leading to the college couldn’t cope with the explosion in traffic
The college is down the bottom of Mill Lane, which locals say is dangerous (Image: Google )
A new passing place and minibus is planned to solve a bitter row over a dangerous country lane leading to an animal care college.
The college, on a farm north-east of Bristol, faced a planning threat as neighbours complained the traffic there makes the narrow lane an unsafe nightmare.
Peopleton Brook Farm, south of Chipping Sodbury, has been granted planning permission by South Gloucestershire Council to operate as a ‘care farm’. This has been happening already for a few years now, but without the relevant permission from council planners.
When the farm applied for permission though, a flurry of neighbours objected due to a ‘traffic explosion’ since the pandemic. They claimed there had been car crashes and road rage along Mill Lane, a narrow country track with few passing places, large potholes and frequent floods.
Councillors on the development management committee voted to grant retrospective permission on Thursday, June 12. But that was on the condition that the college pay to install a proper passing place and sort out a second minibus to ferry pupils back and forth from the farm.
Speaking to the committee, local resident Chris Wood said: “The only contact we’ve had were threatening letters from the applicants’ solicitor, demanding that we remove our complaints from the [council’s] planning portal or face legal action. The lane is narrow with blind bends and only one official passing place.
“It’s not suitable as a primary access route to an education facility. Visitors to the site are clearly not familiar with country lanes and are unable to complete the manoeuvres required. There have been two recent crashes on the lane. PBF is in the wrong location.”
He added that councillors did visit the site, but on half term so didn’t see the full impact of the traffic. He also raised concerns that the council uses the college to educate some children in South Gloucestershire, creating fears of a conflict of interest in granting planning permission.
The farm provides an education for teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities, and was described by parents as a “vital lifeline”.
Around 25 pupils are taught there at one time. If councillors refused permission, that could lead to the farm having to shut down or relocate.
Jake Payne, farm manager, said: “We’ve listened carefully to the concerns raised by local residents, even though these weren’t shared with us directly. In response we’ve taken several steps. The local authority has resurfaced the road and cleared the ditches.
“A passing place will be installed on our land. Student numbers will be capped at 25. From September we will also run two 15-seat minibuses to further reduce vehicle movements along the lane.
“We’re not looking to grow beyond our capacity, we simply want to continue delivering the work that we do in a safe, regulated and respectful way.”
Councillors voted eight to one in favour of granting the application. They noted that the council’s transport department was responsible for maintaining the roads, rather than the farm, but there is a lack of cash affecting the maintenance of similar country lanes across the district.