Historic pub told it cannot have play area

Grade II listed Long Can Hall in the village of Fountain Head, Halifax, applied for planning permission from Calderdale Council for a play area containing large items of play equipment - but was turned down.

Businessman Eric Upite, who helped bring the building back to life in 2009 after it had been a visitor centre attached to a former brewery - which had closed - appealed to the Government body the Planning Inspectorate to overrule the council.

But in a report the Inspectorate’s Alan Novitzky said the play area would have a negative visual impact on Green Belt land.

He said no real evidence had been forward to show that a lack of a play area would affect the pub’s ability to attract families.

His report said: “It is agreed that the proposal represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The play area would be moderately sized, would be partially screened by timber fencing and planting, set slightly below existing surface levels, and the play equipment would be subdued in colour.

“However, its visual impact on the openness of the Green Belt, beyond the clearly identifiable line of development, would still be significant and would conflict with one of the purposed of including land in Green Belts, to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.

“The harm would not be mitigated by the presence of the car park, and of any minor incursions into the Green Belt of the rear gardens belonging to recently built dwellings.

“Moreover, the effect on the public house’s ability to attract family custom, and hence its viability, is a matter on which no real evidence has been put forward.

“If the business plan depends critically on attracting families, there may well be other ways of doing this which avoid development in the Green Belt.”

[email protected]