SAVE HARE HATCH SHEEPLANDS

I really don't get WBC's Greenbelt policy, as yet more greenfield and flood plain sites are being released for housing why are they picking on a Nursery that has been there for years. I also don't get why a local business selling locally grown plants and produce could be forced to close. Surely we all want to buy from local and independent business when we can and to stop supporting the big boys. Good luck HHS, we'll continue to visit on a regular basis.

This is the best garden centre/supplier of gourmet and organic foods in the entire area. Loss of it would mean sheer mediocrity and lack of choice, since other garden centres within the county aren't up to much!!

Why Close Sheeplands ??? It provides jobs a service to the its paying customers, in an area where many small/medium sized business operate.
I can only assune the main drive to close it is coming from similar business in the area??

One can only assume that this objection to parts of the business,is nothing more than a land grab by the vested interests that have attached themselves to the council for their own benefit.These days every business must diversify to survive,it is after all the environment that councils and government have created,sheeplands farm shop is far superior to most other outlets,for the quality of its food,and its treatment of customers,and to use a technicality to illiminate competition in this way is a disgrace,not only for its proponents,but for the council also who lend themselves to this kind of corporate corruption.

Hare Hatch Sheeplands provides a most valuable service to the local residents. Without them we would be at the mercy of the plc conglomerates or face long car journeys to visit comparable independent garden centres. The fact that this area is designated Green Belt is laughable. This whole area south of the A4 is a hive of activity with numerous small businesses and more recently excavation for residential development . WBC please do not close this business - re designate the area instead.

This garden centre is part of our village. The staff are really helpful and know all about the products and plants that they sell. The food served is excellent and the facilities for children are really good.
They employ local people, provide an excellent service WHY would anyone think of trying to curtail their business?

WBC should be supporting and encouraging local businesses...get on and sort this out!

I am sick and tired of people and companies being bullied by councils and governments, if there is a need for building why can't we build on John Redwood's property, cannot see that happening can you.
We are experiencing the worse floods and bad weather for decades, this may not be an isolated case causing misery to thousands of people, what do Wokingham council want to do? cover more ground with concrete which can only exacerbate the problem.
Unfortunately the loss of a fabulous business in Sheeplands, the loss of jobs to their excellent employee's is ignored by the few who only want to make short term profits and hang the consequences for the masses.
There are plenty of industrial sites which are empty that could be used, why not look at those instead of removing a valuable resource like Sheeplanda and destroying our green fields for the obscenity of the greed culture of this government and councils.

Dave Selves,
Tilehurst,
Reading.

The garden centre is many small businesses under one roof, cafe, farm shop, animal food, kiddies area, home improvements to name some of them.Let an amicable solution be found to keep the complex open and to expand.

It is totally wrong they should still be having this battle with Wokingham district council. Sheeplands and Hare Hatch are essential to the community and provide competition for Wyevale. Sheeplands sell excellent produce that nobody else around does.

This centre has the friendliest and most helpful staff in the whole area.

This is a much needed and well supported asset in the area, it reduces the traffic crossing an accident black spot and provides employment and enjoyment. WBC needs to work with the company. A derelict site will encourage unlawful activity - or is there a hidden agenda by WBC, such as housing, industrial estate ... ?

If the enforcement notice issued by Wokingham Borough Council is successful the business will close with the loss of a very valuable asset to the community, several independent retailers and over one hundred jobs. The site will then return to the ugly, derelict, eye-sore that it was in 1993.

Thousands of residents in Twyford and the surrounding areas want this business to be allowed to continue and offer all the existing products and services.

All those who have signed this petition believe that the treatment of Hare Hatch Sheeplands in this long running and very costly planning dispute has been both inconsistent and unfair. We implore Wokingham Borough Council to withdraw the enforcement notice and work with Hare Hatch Sheeplands to resolve this long standing dispute and allow Hare Hatch Sheeplands to compete equally with other similar businesses in the area.

What a waste of tax payers money by wokingham borough council. Why you can't act like adults and see this business for what it is, a garden centre trading in a similar manner to others in the area, resolving the issues would retain jobs and can only be good for the business economy. This situation is beyond me.

Let's hope this works

Sheeplands garden centre and shop is a valuable facility which needs to be retained. It offers a range of plants and goods at reasonable prices. I cannot understand the environmental/green belt arguments being put forward by WBC as it is both adjacent to and opposite to (on two sides) other garden centres/country shops/mower centres. The requirement of the enforcement notice that it sells only plants grown on site appears to be rooted in times past. Do any garden centres grow their own plants these days? Similarly, are there any garden centres that do not sell associated garden products and other year round goods? As I understand it, Sheeplands may not have always helped its own cause but this is not a reason for putting it in jeopardy. We need to keep Sheeplands alive for our plants and other goods!

It makes no sense to jeopardise jobs and livelihoods for the hardworking people at HHS. Common sense should prevail. Economic times are hard, so WBC should do the sensible and moral thing of letting this ridiculous situation go, and stop wasting tax payers money in fighting this.

Hare Hatch Sheeplands contribute greatly to our local community. It would be a sad loss should they close for the customers, employees, children that have such fun there and the many craft and artisans that sell their wares there.

I cannot believe Wokingham Planning want to close this valuable business.
I visit the butchers shop on a weekly basis as I know that the meat is from the UK, tastes like meat should do and does not contain horse. Save this business

I think it would be a great shame to close sheeplands, As it is a very good garden centre & farm shop ect, just what people want,All the reasons for wokingham council wanting to close it is ludicrous, Lets hope they come to their senses. And sheeplands will be able to stay!!!

WBC. what do you expect they are experts at wasting money and ruining peoples
Lives with their ridiculous decisions , as for the reasons for turning down the application how pathetic when wyevale is across the road so the same reasons must apply to them. SAVE SHEEPLANDS

If this business were to close it would be detrimental to the area, and put people on benefits - Ludicrous decision! -Gillian

We have used Sheeplands ever since it opened and are regular and frequent shoppers there. We think it would be a great loss to the local community if it were to close. Surely Wokingham council can sit down with Sheeplands and sort out a solution - or do they have an hidden agenda ?

Why not have a paper version instore as well. Not
everyone will bother to go online.

#324: -

Hi, thanks for your interest. HHS had an instore petition before the last enforcement meeting in 2013.