'No' to farm's plans

PROPOSALS to increase leisure activities at a Portishead farm have been thrown out by town and parish councillors.Both Portishead and North Weston Town Council and Weston-in-Gordano Parish Council have recommended plans by David Down to increase activities at Weston Lodge Farm at Valley Road, be thrown out.Mr Down, who is also a Weston-in-Gordano parish councillor, has submitted a retrospective planning application to use his land at Weston Lodge Farm at Valley Road for clay pigeon shooting, paintballing and go karting.He currently has a certificate of lawful use to run clay pigeon shooting sessions for 35 days each year with the size and hours of the shoot being restricted.But over the years he has expanded activities at the site without consent and now runs go-karting, paintballing and quad biking sessions as well as regular clay pigeon shoots.In his planning application Mr Downs wants to increase shooting to 48 Saturdays in the year and have 18 Sunday shoots each year.He also wants to hold 20 weekday events through the year and have no restrictions on the amount of paintballing and go-karting on the site.The plans also seek permission for five cabins on the land, currently used for a paint store, cafe, toilets, changing rooms and storage.At a meeting of Portishead and North Weston Town Council planning committee, residents raised concerns about the extra noise, disturbance and traffic the increase in activities would cause.Others said they were worried about the pollution the karts would cause as a result of large amounts of dust being thrown up and some residents said coaches dropping off at the site and parking on the Coast Road and Charlcombe Rise would pose a serious highway concerns.Councillors agreed to object to the application on the grounds it would be detrimental to local residents in terms of noise, traffic and dust.