Barbed wire fence concerns ‘cannabis vinery’ neighbours
A VINERY is going to look like a prison and will attract criminals, neighbours have said over fears that it could used to grow cannabis.
The people behind The Original Alternative shop, which sells cannabidiol products, have applied to install a gate, barbed wire fencing and lights around Douit Vinery in Douit Lane, on the border between Castel and Vale. However, they have not said what they will be growing on the site.
Christine Morgan, 86, has lived nearby for 24 years and can remember when the vinery was used for growing flowers.
She was concerned that the lights on the site would cause pollution in the area, which does not have street lights. She was also worried it might bring trouble.
‘I would not want it to attract people down to try and get in,’ she said.
‘I also don’t know much traffic there will be. To have excessive-sized vehicles down here would be ridiculous really.’
Geoff Denning has lived opposite the site for more than 50 years.
He can remember when the site was an open field and was keen to see the site used again.
‘If they are going to be growing a crop that’s legal, then a packing shed is fair enough. The thing I have issue with is the fence. It will look pretty horrendous – like a prison opposite my house.’
He said promises of screening seemed strange, as planting anything close to the fence would make it easier for people to climb over.
He noted that thousands of pounds of work had been taking place on the site recently to tidy it up.
‘It’s all very expensive,’ he said.‘They are not going to invest too much unless they had assurances [they could do their plans].’
Dave Allett has lived nearby for nearly 30 years.
‘I’m not happy about this,’ he said. ‘That sort of fencing will not fit in with the area. And if it is growing something like cannabis, then it would attract the wrong sort of people.’
He said while he could understand the need to grow cannabis for medicinal use, he did not think this was the right location.
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, had seen the plans and was drafting a response to Planning, laying out her worries.
‘My main concern is how high the fencing will be,’ she said. ‘It is 2.5m and then there will be wire on top, so it will not look great. Hopefully they will plant screening, but that will take a while to get established.’
She welcomed the site being used for growing again.
. The two planning applications for the site can be viewed at Sir Charles Frossard House.
