Borough planning committee members have acted decisively on what was seen as a 'benchmark' application in relation to the future development of West Lancashire’s greenbelt.

Members who discussed the complex application for the expansion of Smithy Mushroom Farm in Scarisbrick threw it out on Thursday on grounds of loss of both greenbelt and valuable grade one soil.

The new plant would be bankrolled by Hyundai of S. Korea and has been in the pipeline for over 18 months after an initial open afternoon at Scarisbrick Village Hall last summer.

Commented Burscough councillor Andy Pritchard: "An appeal is very possible, but fighting appeals is for another day and for the planning inspectorate, new evidence will be reviewed when that day comes.

"The National Planning Policy Framework does put great importance on the loss of openness of the greenbelt and the loss of valuable grade 1 soil, which we here in West Lancs are blessed to have.

"So after reviewing all the submitted information, I moved for a rejection on the grounds of visual impact and the effect on the character of the local landscape.

"It was a successful rejection with fellow committee members backing the move.

"The people of Scarisbrick and Burscough already experience heavy traffic on our roads coming down from the Motorway, so hopefully for the time being this result will maintain the status quo of the numbers of large vehicles we see heading down Pippin St, the B5242."

He added: "I guess corporations that back these ventures may sometimes come to realise that when faced with stiff opposition from the local community it’s far easier to go and find an already existing Industrial site with good highway infrastructure and services in place, rather than develop an agricultural site which overwhelms the local countryside.

"So we will wait and see, they do have the resources to go anywhere and invest in the world, they may just give West Lancashire a wide berth, who knows?"

Quite right, growing mushrooms is plainly out of place in the countryside and vehicles picking produce up is completely out of character too.

The final insult must be putting up agricultural buildings this sets a dangerous precedent in the countryside.

All those greenhouses on grade 1 land in Banks will have to go and the barns should be down before Christmas.

Are councilors picked along with mushrooms?

I suppose Smithy Mushrooms are looking for a 12-year-old to run their appeal, shouldn't be too hard for them.

They ought to get Jenrick to run the appeal for them.

Probably get a skyscraper thrown in as well.

Considering the amount of HGV traffic it will generate, this huge facility should be on the Burscough Industrial Estate.

Originally Posted by local

Quite right, growing mushrooms is plainly out of place in the countryside and vehicles picking produce up is completely out of character too.

The final insult must be putting up agricultural buildings this sets a dangerous precedent in the countryside.

All those greenhouses on grade 1 land in Banks will have to go and the barns should be down before Christmas.

Are councilors picked along with mushrooms?

I suppose Smithy Mushrooms are looking for a 12-year-old to run their appeal, shouldn't be too hard for them.

This was not going to be an agricultural enterprise, it was going to be mushroom growing on an industrial scale. The land concreted over and massive increase in HGVs using the roads. It would have been best suited to an industrial zone.

Brilliant news! So pleased for all the residents involved. One less blot on the landscape. Monstrosities like this are better suited to industrial or brownfield areas, not greenbelt areas. This wasn’t a farmer wanting to erect another barn to stick his tractor in. This was changing a small agricultural business into what would have looked like a major industrial zone. There’s more than enough polluting LGV’s trundling up and down that road as it is. Sometimes being a NIMBY pays off. Great result.

Originally Posted by The PNP

Considering the amount of HGV traffic it will generate, this huge facility should be on the Burscough Industrial Estate.

Nope, all mushrooms will be delivered in bike panniers along dedicated cycle routes.

Good decision hope smithy find better site and do well .

Originally Posted by local

Nope, all mushrooms will be delivered in bike panniers along dedicated cycle routes.

Would be a good idea, except this facility is not a retail outlet. Product will be palletised and destined for distribution centres via motorway network......Best mode of transport in this case is an artic.

Originally Posted by The PNP

Would be a good idea, except this facility is not a retail outlet. Product will be palletised and destined for distribution centres via motorway network......Best mode of transport in this case is an artic.

Delivering Mushrooms in bike panniers would be a good idea ?

Have you had your head up a chimney.

Originally Posted by Kafoozalum

This was not going to be an agricultural enterprise, it was going to be mushroom growing on an industrial scale. The land concreted over and massive increase in HGVs using the roads. It would have been best suited to an industrial zone.

So growing mushrooms is not an agricultural enterprise if you grow a lot ?


Better get round to some of those greenhouses around Banks and tell them to smash some windows they're too big.

Originally Posted by local

Delivering Mushrooms in bike panniers would be a good idea ?

Have you had your head up a chimney.

Delivering any type of grocery by bike is a good idea - period!

Originally Posted by local

So growing mushrooms is not an agricultural enterprise if you grow a lot ?

No. It’s called Fungiculture, however many you’re growing.

'Best mode of transport in this case is an artic.'

Sorry old fruit but I aint pedalling one of those!!

Originally Posted by donkey22

No. It’s called Fungiculture, however many you’re growing.

You have got your wires crossed, fungi culture is a sector of the agricultural business.