Neighbours have spotted animals inside an enclosure at a planned kimchi farm in Chesham – despite the council ordering the landowners to cease operating at the site.
The council first handed brother and sister Syed and Uruss Ahmed an enforcement notice for the removal of a fence in a patch of woodland near Pednor Road in July 2021.
However, the pair missed the notice deadline of November 2022, and nearly two years later, not only is the fence still standing but locals have spotted a flurry of new developments underway in the woodland, which was initially proposed for use as a kimchi farm by the Ahmeds three years ago.
Criminal action on the enforcement notice breach appears to have been paused while the council considers a retrospective planning application for the fence – which the landowners applied for in July, describing it as necessary to prevent “trespassing and vandalism” in the area.
But Buckinghamshire Council has issued a new order for the removal of the new structures at the site – with a compliance deadline of January 1, 2025.
The new notice, which will take effect on October 1, outlines the “breach of planning control” in the Ahmeds’ construction of a wooden building, gates and an “enclosure formed from pallets and fencing” near Pednor Road without planning permission.
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Unless an appeal is submitted, they will have until January 1 to “dismantle and remove the wooden building, gates, enclosure and fencing” from the land, alongside “all materials and debris”.
Mr Strachan said the retrospective planning application for fence at the site would “be progressed to determination in the meantime”, with any implications “dependent on its outcome”.
It comes after two residents – Joanne Greenberg and Jeremy Woodcock – wrote to the council expressing concern over “substantial further development” in the woodland area at the beginning of September.
Mr Woodcock said he had noticed that “vehicular access has been created from Pednor Road, wooden gates have been installed and a substantial wooden dwelling has been erected behind the gates” – describing the new constructions as “significantly above and beyond the permissions sought” from the council.
And Mrs Greenberg added: “As of September 16, a fence has been electrified and goats, a large gate, shed and chicken coop are all on the property (despite) a decision not being (made) by the council.”
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