Contractor told to remove vehicles in planning row between council and Telford zoo
A planning inspector has ordered a contractor to remove all its vehicles from land owned by Hoo Zoo following a row with Telford & Wrekin Council.
The council has been locked in an argument with the tourist attraction for over three years after receiving a complaint about the use of land in a wooded area to the east of Hoo Zoo.
Appellant Jodie McCabe said that the land has been used for ‘many years’ for storing farm machinery and materials such as fencing for the farm.
However, since 2018 the site has been used by the landscape contractor, Mr Tranter for the parking and storage of small tractors, agricultural/landscaping implements, a digger, three steel shipping containers, vans and trailers.
Telford & Wrekin Council alleged that without planning permission the use of the land has changed to a ‘landscape contractor's storage yard’ with the siting of storage containers and the laying of stone and hardcore.
Subsequently the council has issued four different enforcement notices. A planning inspector quashed one of the enforcement notices and an appeal against another notice was launched last year.
Planning inspector S A Hanson handed a split decision to the second appeal against an enforcement notice.
