Pendle: Mum could be forced to shut down farm school for children near gas pipe

Nest Farm School at Greenhead Lane, Brierfield, is run by Georgie Mitchell, a former Great Britain snowboarder. She has developed the business over the past three years and submitted a retrospective planning application to Pendle Borough Council seeking approval for change of use of an agricultural building and adjacent land at the site, which she rents.

Nest Farm School, Pendle

But borough planning officers are advising councillors on the Nelson, Brierfield and Reedley Commitee to refuse change of use permission and to issue an enforcement order to cease the farm school activities within three months.

Utility firm Cadent Gas has objected to the retrospective application, saying it has the ‘potential to impact gas aparatus’.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has also objected.

An agenda for the borough’s Nelson committee meeting to be held tonight states: “The risk of harm to people at the proposed development site is such that HSE’s advice is that there are sufficient reasons on safety grounds, for advising against the granting of planning permission in this case.”

However planning officers also say numerous responses have been received in support of the farm school application and the benefits it offers to children.

Farm school owner Georgie Mitchell said: “I’ve been renting these premises for three years. The pandemic held my plans back but I launched properly this spring. I now have 200 kids signed up for different classes through the week. I have two classes a day, Monday to Friday.  It’s like a modern-day Brownies for kids who want to do something different. It’s great for kids who don’t fancy football or dancing, for example.

“Children come here and learn about animals and growing crops. We have a chicken pen where we collect eggs, a polytunnel for plants and vegetables, ponies, goats, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs. Parents love it too. When I launched, I had enquires from about 40 parents really quickly.”

Nest Farm School C Pendle

She plans to speak to councillors at tonight’s meeting in Nelson, along with an agent. But she added: “I don’t know what I’ll do if I have to close. There might be a farm location somewhere else? Maybe I can change around what I do here? I could appeal? But children and parents will be heartbroken. My own kids will be heartbroken too.

“I’ve got three minutes to speak and fight for the farm school, saying why I should be granted planning permission to carry on. If not, it looks like I’ve three months left to trade before enforcement closes me down. I’m trying to build a good pitch and remain positive. But it’s hard.”

Ms Mitchell, aged 35, lives in Simonstone and has three children of her own – Billy, Dolly and Peggy, aged 11, eight and three. When younger, she attended St Augustine’s High School in Billington.

Georgie Mitchell of Nest Farm School, Pendle

She said the farm school has generated interest from the Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson and a national government colleague, and she has been approached about potentially developing it into a franchise for other sites too.

After school, she became a snowboarder which took her across the world. She later returned home to Lancashire, gained a degree in counselling, psychology and child development and a teacher training qualification.

Regarding public safety,  the agenda states: “There is a major accident hazard gas pipeline running under the site. Both Cadent Gas and the Health and Safety Executive have objected to the application on the basis that the site is within the risk zone of that pipeline and the proposed children’s education use is not appropriate.

“Whilst the building itself does not lie within Cadent’s 15m easement of the pipeline, outdoor parking and a petting area are located in that area. Furthermore, the HSE consultation zone extends beyond the 15m easement and does include the building. The use is incompatible with this location in close proximity to a major accident hazard gas pipeline, contrary to policy ENV5.”

Regarding the green belt, the agenda states: “The application site is located in the green belt approximately 950m from the settlement boundary and 1.3km from the nearest bus stops. This is an unsustainable location for the proposed use which would require children and staff to use private motor vehicles to access the site.

“National planning policy sets out a number of exceptions for development in the green belt. Educational developments are not one of those exceptions. There is an exception for the changes of use provided that the openness of the green belt is preserved. However, this development would involve changing the use of the bale pad to a car park. That would not preserve the openness of the green belt and therefore does not meet that exception.”

Pendle councillors will consider the application on Monday night.