More car boot sales approved

A PLANNING inspector has ruled that the number of car boot sales held at Townfield Lane, Winwick can be doubled to 28 a year – despite road safety fears arising from motorists illegally turning right into the site from the A49 Newton Road.
The borough council refused planning consent for the increase last year, but an appeal has been allowed.
The sale operators have permission to hold 14 sales a year under permitted development rights. They also had permission to allow other uses, such as circuses and funfairs to use the site, for another 14 days.
But they agreed to forego the 14 days of other events in favour of increasing the number of car boot sales to roughly fortnightly use.
The inspector who heard the appeal decided the additional 14 sales would not amount to a material change of use of the land.
He decided the increased number of sales would have an impact on the openness of the area, but that this impact would not be significant.
Although there was congestion, including illegal right hand turns, it was not the applicant’s fault if visitors did not observe traffic regulations.
He did not regard car boot sales as an inappropriate use of Green Belt land.