OWNERS of a Vale growers firm say they need planning permission for a house on the site so they can better manage the business.

Veto and Nick Mauro, of G and G Mauro, which is based at Harvington, claim the amount of time and work needed to monitor the quality of the salad and vegetable crops grown there means they need someone living on site. The owners currently live six miles away, in Evesham. An increasing order book has also prompted a planning submission - for a two-storey house - to Wychavon District Council. A previous application by G and G Mauro, for two

houses on the Evesham Road premises, was withdrawn last January.

Items ranging from cos lettuce to courgettes and salad onions and fine frisee are grown on the 15-acre Harvington site owned and operated by G and G Mauro.

The business also has a long-term tenancy agreement with Johnson Brothers, of Lodge Farm, Harvington on 180 acres - which will be increased by 50 acres next year - of neighbouring

land.

The produce is supplied to local prepared salad processors and vegetable packers.

During the summer growing season, from March to November, around 25 overseas students are employed by G and G Mauro, together with three permanent staff. Expansion plans, which include erecting a glasshouse with automated computer controls for tomato growing, will only be feasible if someone is on site at all times, according to the company.

In its submission to the district council, prepared by Vale Vegetable Crop Consultancy, the firm says quantities of produce it grows have increased rapidly, with higher quality and less waste.

It adds: "At present, all the partners live in Evesham, some six miles from the unit. They

travel to and from the unit many times a day, sometimes at unsociable hours, to attend to functions critical to the quality of the crops.

"The partners consider that the efficiency of their expanding operation is suffering from not having a presence at the farm at all times."