Plans to have a temporary ice rink set up at a garden centre near Aylesbury have been saved.

The Chiltern View Nursery, which is based on Wendover Road in Stoke Mandeville, applied to have the area erected for use between November 23 and December 31.

This comes after previous events in 2021 and 2022 have been met with great success.

And despite the initial report suggesting that the application should be rejected, the committee voted differently. 

Members decided to delegate the decision to the Planning Committee Chairman by nine to two, to grant permission subject to specified conditions being met.

This is despite multiple notices being issued to the nursery for allegedly breaching its initial agreement.

In a planning application meeting on August 16, it was revealed that the building can only be used for ‘horticultural’ use and that its current format is being used as a retail garden centre is ‘unlawful’.

Additionally, it was revealed that the site ‘has continued to be developed in breach of planning control, including extensions to the building, extensions to the hardstanding for the car park, the use of external areas for the storage of items for sale.’

Those who are using the land are currently taking the notices to an appeal.

Conservative councillor Michael Collins, who was present at the meeting, was one of the many in attendance who wanted the application to get the green light.

He said: “This application is complex and the issues raised by the planning team need to be reconsidered.

“I have taken a pragmatic view in support of this application as it will benefit the community over the Christmas period.

“The Chiltern View Ice Skating event provides a huge amount of fun and enjoyment to thousands of people, young and old and of abilities and this is proven with the attendance figures, as around 3,000 spaces were given to charities and special needs children in the past couple of years.”

His speech was met with a round of applause, with 1,000 people signing signatures to show support for the ice rink being put up.

However, in the official document explaining its refusal, it reads: “The lawful nursery building on site has been extended significantly in breach of planning control, the lawful nursery car park area has been extended significantly in breach of planning control and the wider Chiltern View Nurseries site is in use as a garden centre in breach of planning control.

“The Council has, most recently in November 2022, issued several enforcement notices in respect of the unauthorised uses and development undertaken at the site.

“The notices have been appealed and as such, have not taken effect.”

Councillor Michael Rand, Chairman of the Central Buckinghamshire Planning Committee said: "The Committee has weighed up the application and recognised the strong local support for the ice rink and the community benefits it brings.

"The Committee listened carefully to all representations and a decision was taken to defer and delegate to officers for approval, subject to conditions to be determined in consultation with the Planning Committee Chairman."

To read the full report, click here.