A SALAD grower near Pershore has won planning permission for 35 caravans to be installed for his seasonal workers.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee approved the re-submitted plans for the site at Sandfields Farm, Wyre Piddle Bypass, Upper Moor, despite it being recommended for refusal.

Permission was granted for the temporary use of 35 caravans for 175 seasonal staff working in the pack house at Upper Moor from the beginning of April to October each year.

The caravans will be removed from the site, which grows salad onions, fresh legumes and asparagus, out of season and stored at the back of the pack house.

Planners discussed the original plans in January but threw them out as they considered them to be too large-scale.

Derek Wilkinson, managing director of Sandfield Farms, said the caravans would reduce travel costs for some of the workers who had to travel from as far away as Birmingham.

He said: “The staff would rely on local shops and facilities.

“We feel this would be a sustainable solution.”

No objections were raised by the parish council but some residents were concerned over the amount of caravans proposed.

Pinvin ward member Councillor Elizabeth Tucker said she respected the company but noted there had been objections from the community.

She said: “The concerns of the local residents are largely to do with the number of mobiles and caravans they have in the parish against the number of houses.

“There’s something like 235. They feel they are being overwhelmed by mobiles. But mobiles do make a contribution to parish funds.”

Councillor Adrian Darby said: “They are ancillary to the agricultural production of the rest of the enterprise.”

But Wychavon’s head of housing and planning George Framalicco warned the decision could set a dangerous precedent for future applications.

He said: “This is quite an example to be setting.

“My concern is that in setting this example this will let others follow.

“You are opening this up to a dangerous precedent.”