A Ross-on-Wye fruit farm which grows millions of strawberries every year has had a High Court judgement, against its use of polytunnels, overturned following a lengthy legal battle.
Following yesterday’s Court of Appeal decision, EC Drummond & Son, in the Wye Valley, has now established its right to use the polythene structures at the business which is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, AONB.
The NFU, which acted as intervener in the case, said the ruling was ‘a victory for common sense’. 
In 2008, farmer Eric Drummond won planning approval from Herefordshire Council for the polytunnels but an action group challenged the authority’s decision.
The following year The High Court ruled there was an ‘error of law’ in failing to carry out an environmental impact assessment and the site was ‘a semi-natural area’.
The NFU intervened as it had concerns about the High Court judgment and the wider impacts the ruling could have on the industry.
Following yesterday’s successful appeal Mr Drummond said that he, his family and staff had an overwhelming feeling of relief.
He said: “As a family and as a business we are pleased and relieved that now we can finally see a clear way forward.
“The NFU and their chief legal adviser Nina Winter have been brilliant throughout this and we have also had good support from the regional office.”
EC Drummond & Son also grows raspberries and blackberries, produces wheat, oil-seed and potatoes and rears chickens on farms across the West Midlands.
NFU regional director David Collier said farmers and growers would continue to support the economy, bring in jobs and fuel the recovery and polytunnels were an essential part of that success.
He said: “The Court of Appeal decision is a victory for common sense as polytunnels are a vital part of the good news story that is the region’s soft fruit and horticulture sector and they allow crops to thrive protecting them from rainfall and poor weather.
“These structures are allowing growers to compete with foreign imports, keep food miles down and offer shoppers a great tasting, local product.”
The British soft fruit industry is worth £185 million every year and polytunnels have been a key element in the sector’s development because of the improved conditions for growing that they offer.
For a fuller report on the Court of Appeal decision please see the main home page of www.nfuonline.com
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