Prison farm shop plan deferred again

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have put off a decision for a second time on a controversial proposal for a farm shop in the grounds of a prison.
Members of  the borough council’s development management committee are concerned about road safety issues arising from the proposal at the Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution in Arley Road, Appleton Thorn.
The entrance to the farm shop would be right opposite an entrance to Appleton Thorn Primary School.
The plan has attracted opposition from a nearby resident and from borough councillor Brian Axcell, opposed the scheme on the grounds it was an unacceptable commercial operation in the Green Belt and would cause harm to living conditions in a neighbouring property.
There were also concerns about noise from the development, which involves a change of use of an existing agricultural building.
The proposed shop would mainly sell produce grown or made on the site.
Planning officers say there would no external alterations to the existing building so there would be no impact on the Green Belt.
Highways chiefs have raised no objections, subject to satisfactory visibility splays in both directions at the proposed access.
The small scale of the operation would mean it would not affect any retail centres, the nearest of which was more than a mile away.  But it would fulfil a local need.
The plan is for some 70 per cent of the goods on sale to be grown or made on the site with 30 per cent being imported goods which cannot be grown on the site such as potatoes, oranges, bananas and honey.
The aim is to serve the local community of Appleton Thorn – which has no existing shop.
Pictured: The existing building, viewed from Arley Road.