• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Friday, June 6, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Police Picture: Pixabay

    Woman sexually assaulted by teenager outside Morrisons in Bracknell

    Police

    Arrest made after child sexually assaulted in Finchampstead

    Man robbed and assaulted by group of teenagers in Bracknell

    Cllr Lawley joined the council to celebrate the opening of the History Wall and Coronation orchard garden.

    Tributes paid to former Woodley mayor and borough leader

    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

    World-class polo plans for borough

    The scene of the fly-tipping incident.

    Help identify fly-tippers in Bracknell

    CEO and founder Sally Russell says The Cowshed is a house of miracles. Picture: Emma Merchant

    The Cowshed thanks Wokingham United Charities

    Marvellous is a tribute act festival. Pic: WBC.

    A Marvellous tribute at Dinton

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

    World-class polo plans for borough

    Reading FC

    Reading FC legend announces international retirement

    Wokingham Town Football Club?s under-8 Leopards.

    New kit for Leopards

    Caversham AFC U18 Rovers

    Friendship and football – a winning combination as Caversham AFC U18 Rovers celebrate success

    Reading FC fans

    Reading FC chairman Couhig to invite fans to watch game in owner’s box

    Wargrave Sprint Triathlon

    Entries still open for Wargrave Sprint Triathlon 2025

    Joel Pereira

    Reading FC goalkeeper Joel Pereira ‘weighing up options’ ahead of summer transfer window

    Reading Football Club, Joe Jacobson

    ‘This club has tremendous potential’: Reading FC CEO speaks on transfer targets ahead of summer window

    Reading FC

    Reading FC to enhance matchday experience for fans

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Cllr Lawley joined the council to celebrate the opening of the History Wall and Coronation orchard garden.

    Tributes paid to former Woodley mayor and borough leader

    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

    World-class polo plans for borough

    The scene of the fly-tipping incident.

    Help identify fly-tippers in Bracknell

    CEO and founder Sally Russell says The Cowshed is a house of miracles. Picture: Emma Merchant

    The Cowshed thanks Wokingham United Charities

    No parking enforcement tickets will be issued after woman suffers fall.

    RingGo still in use for parking

    Wokingham MP Clive Jones at last Wednesday's PMQs. Pic: BBC Parliament.

    MP reacts to RBH ‘massive shortfall’

    Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay.

    Energy first for Whiteknights primary

    Wokingham Town Football Club?s under-8 Leopards.

    New kit for Leopards

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Marvellous is a tribute act festival. Pic: WBC.

    A Marvellous tribute at Dinton

    Wokingham MP Clive Jones at last Wednesday's PMQs. Pic: BBC Parliament.

    MP reacts to RBH ‘massive shortfall’

    Whether people are planning a barbecue, camping trip or countryside hike, there are small steps they can take to prevent a fire from breaking out. Picture: RBFRS

    Help keep Berkshire’s countryside safe from fire this Summer

    Share Wokingham operates at locations across the borough, through the week, providing fresh groceries. Picture: courtesy of Share Wokingham.

    Struggling families can get help with groceries

    Wokingham MP Clive Jones Picture: Andrew Batt

    MP calls for action on ‘dangerous’ delays

    Mike's company, Kill A Watt, aims to help households cut down their energy bills and reduce their impact on the environment. PIcture: Dock8 via PIxabay

    Naturally Speaking

    Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

    Church Notes: Impossible things to believe?

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment

    RaW Sounds celebrates five years of championing local music

    Party in the Park on Saturday.

A balcony view.

    Get ready for Party in the Park

    Marvellous is a tribute act festival. Pic: WBC.

    A Marvellous tribute at Dinton

    Double Standards

    New play ‘Double Standards’ at South Streets Art Centre to explore hypocrisy in dating

    Wokingham Pride

    Could you help Wokingham Pride 2025?

    REVIEW: “Three Hens In A Boat” at The Watermill Theatre

    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Sheeplands loses judicial hearing over lawful use of land in ongoing battle with Wokingham Borough Council

by Phil Creighton
September 6, 2016
in Featured, Politics, Twyford, Wokingham
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The owner of a garden centre has vowed to fight on after a planning appeal was rejected at a judicial review on Tuesday morning.

Hare Hatch Sheeplands has been appealing against Wokingham Borough Council’s decision not to grant them a certificate of lawful use over its land.

But today, in the first of three days set aside for the review, Bridget Campbell, the Government appointed planning inspector, dismissed the appeal saying that as an enforcement notice was in place she could not grant a certificate of lawful use even if she felt it was merited.

Planning consultant Matthew Green, representing Sheeplands, said that it was “in the public interest” for the inspector to hear the evidence. He made the point that even if she could not grant a certificate she could express her opinion on the merits of the case.

He added that this would be in the public interest because it would indicate to both parties involved, and to any further legal or planning hearings, the professional opinion of a planning expert.

Despite this, Ms Campbell said that proceeding with the hearing would be “a waste of time and expense” and the hearing was ended before lunch, rather than going on for three days.

Related posts

VOTE 2024: Live blog from the Wokingham Borough Council elections count

VOTE 2024: Labour can be an effective opposition says its Wokingham leader

Afterwards Mr Green said: “Wokingham Borough Council has the power to withdraw the enforcement notice at any point and then reimpose it.”

He felt that “most reasonable people would have expected the council to withdraw the notice” to allow the hearing to go ahead and then impose it again if the inspector found in their favour.

“Their decision not to do so is one I do not understand.”

But despite this setback to the garden centre’s plans – which include opening a rare tropical plant nursery – Mr Scott pledged to carry on and sought to reassure his customers, thousands of whom have signed a petition in favour of the business. A large crowd of supporters also came to the hearing.

He said: “My message to my loyal staff and customers is that it’s business as usual. Hare Hatch Sheeplands is open and trading and so are all our concessionaires.

“The fight goes on.”

Cllr Mark Ashwell, executive member for Planning and Regeneration, said that the garden centre’s owner had been “poorly advised” and that the Council will be pursuing them for the costs involved in this review.

Speaking to The Wokingham Paper, he said: “It’s a victory for common sense. They could not win this particular action for all the reasons the actions described.

“We will be looking to reclaim the council’s costs. By the looks of it, it’s costed a lot.”
He added that the council had tried to work with Mr Scott and his team to achieve a resolution to the dispute that works for all.

“I’ve said that if we can somehow collaborate we can get through this, but their advice has taken them down a cul-de-sac which is costing money and then they have been beating us up about spending taxpayers’ money.

“We have to get the costs back or it will cost the taxpayers money.”

Although Sheeplands has lost this judicial review, the company’s battle with the council is not over yet.

A High Court hearing will take place next month and a petition signed by the centre’s supporters and customers will soon be presented to the council. It has enough signatures on it to force a debate on the matter, which is thought could be heard in November.

Rob Scott and partner Andrea Burlingham with their twins outside Wokingham Borough Council
Rob Scott and partner Andrea Burlingham with their twins outside Wokingham Borough Council

 

How Sheeplands saga unfolded

The problems started in 2003 when Petstop moved over the Sheeplands into a temporary shipping container after being evicted from the Wyevale site on the other side of the Bath Road while applying for planning permission, which was subsequently turned down.
Over the next several years planning permission for various concessions, including the coffee shop and farm shop, were turned down, appealed and approved with strict conditions, with concerns raised by Wokingham Borough Council that too much Green Belt land was being used for business purposes.

In 2010, the centre began working closely with the council to submit a master plan for the future of the site, costing the company tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees, only for the plan to be refused in 2011.

In 2013, the council offered to negotiate a resolution with Sheeplands, commissioning an independent report to review the company’s business plan, which confirms that Sheeplands is not viable without the retail sales from the garden centre and concessions. Sheeplands submitted a detailed plan for the future of the site, which included developing the play facility, expanding the farm shop to include fresh fish, a bakery and deli counter, and to bring the concession businesses into the main shop building, as well as an action plan for the transition into compliance with the council’s regulations.

However, in March 2015 the application was turned down, and an enforcement to stop selling plants and gardening products, as well as the closure of various concessions including the play area, began.

 

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: Hare HatchRob ScottSheeplandsWokingham Borough Council
Previous Post

New £3.50 artisan loaf to be launched in Wokingham supermarket

Next Post

Hear a one man sonic explosion at the Wokingham Music Club

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Reading FC

Reading FC to enhance matchday experience for fans

June 1, 2025
Image by Nicky Perom Pixabay.

Call for schools to make a splash

June 3, 2025
Wargrave Sprint Triathlon

Entries still open for Wargrave Sprint Triathlon 2025

June 3, 2025
The Newbury Building Society team receive an award from ceremony host, comedian Simon Evans..Credit: Smart Money People.

Top awards for building society

June 3, 2025
Goalkeeping coach Tony Warner Picture: Luke Adams

Reading FC coach set to depart to join fellow League One side

May 31, 2025
Walk The Walk thanks all its volunteers, who help to run its London and Scotland MoonWalks. Picture: Walk The Walk

Walk the Walk highlights supporters during National Volunteers’ Week

May 31, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.