Willaston Community Farm announces closure

Willaston Community Farm provides farm experience sessions, education, training and corporate events.

In a post on Thursday (February 9) the owner of the farm, Paul Jackson, who has had the farm for 20 years, confirmed that closure of the farm was "imminent" due to "complaints by certain parties in the village".

He claimed the matter also needed more "urgent attention" from Willaston councillor, Myles Hogg.

Paul Jackson said: "We've had real victories here. We've had Ukrainian women come, people with mental health, to break down barriers. We get such tremendous feedback.

"I've spent an awful lot of money on the farm during Covid and I applied for a licence last year to be able to take animals off the farm to care homes which was issued by the council.

"The licence is about to run out, and I've now been told I need to apply for planning permission as it could be seen that my land is changing its use from an agricultural plot.

"This has been going on for around 18 years. It's just problem after problem."

Paul has explained that Willaston residents, part of the Willaston Residents and Countryside society have been sending in complaints to Cheshire West and Chester Council about the farm.

In a Facebook post, Willaston Residents and Countryside society said they were "sorry to hear" of the closure of Willaston Farm.

Paul continued: "There was no professionalism. Residents have brought in personal issues and said I wanted to build houses all along, which I didn't.

"The council is now asking me to apply for planning permission for a little pond and a shop which has been there for four years.

"They've basically took a shotgun to the site. The turning point for me was I had to let a couple of people go, including Katie who loved the animals.

"It's just money we haven't got. We are being victimised."

Paul also has a static caravan on the site, which he says the council allowed him to use for security and with the business.

He said: "The van was vandalised about ten years and I told the council it had been vanadalised. There was £20,000 worth of damage.

"We moved in full-time here and gave me an enforcement notice saying I couldn't use it as a residence. I said you've given me permission to stay here for security. I don't understand the difference between security, which can be 24/7. 

"The whole thing is a mess. The caravan has been there for 40 years."

Paul also criticised Cllr Myles Hogg for what he believes is a lack of support, however, the councillor gave a response to those claims.

'I support the farm enterprise very much'

In a comment to the Globe, Cllr Hogg said: "I sit on the planning committee but am not an officer so I take no part in the decisions. A planning application was rejected on August 28 by residents for a change of use of agricultural buildings to two dwellings, on the grounds it was green belt.

"What support is Mr Jackson seeking? The residents meet every two months and there is a 15-minute slot where any resident can come along and make a plea for whatever they want and Mr Jackson has never taken advantage of that, and I also asked him to attend one of my surgeries on January 14 and unfortunately, he couldn't make it.

"In 2018, the residents were very happy with what he was doing on the site, and the good work he was doing. The only angst has only ever been over planning, but he has to follow the retrospective applications, just like all of my other residents do. He needs to abide by the rules and regulations.

"He's never approached me to ask if he could have any of my council fund that I get if he is in financial difficulty.

"I support the farm enterprise very much. I wouldn't like to think it's anything I haven't done that has caused the demise of this enterprise. He's got every right to ask me for support and I hope to meet him on Saturday to tell him how I can assist and hopefully save the farm."

Council comment

A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: "The Community Farm is a well-used and much-loved community space for local people. We appreciate that most people apply for planning permission before carrying out controlled development, but unfortunately that has not happened in this case.

"It is not clear that the various activities and building works that have been carried out alongside the community farm use are in line with relevant requirements, and so it is important that the community has an opportunity to comment.

"Where it looks as though planning permission might be granted we encourage the submission of a retrospective planning application so that people can continue to enjoy using the space. Where the council does not think planning permission should be granted it may issue a planning enforcement notice, as in this case regarding ceasing the residential use of the static caravan."