A farmer has expressed his frustration over the continuing delay in obtaining planning permission to build a barn for his livestock, as two of his pregnant alpacas face difficulties coping with the cold.
Hesham Fada, known as Sam, purchased land in Ashford Hill, in January 2021, with plans to develop an agricultural business.
He made an application to build a barn on the site for his livestock in January this year.
Now, 10 months later, he is still waiting for approval from the local council, leaving his animals without proper shelter.
The 60-year-old, who works for a local authority in London, bought the land to start his farming venture and ultimately leave his current job.
However, delays in the approval process have left Sam shocked and disheartened, especially in light of objections from neighbours, including a former councillor.
"I'm losing money, and there's no shelter for my alpacas," Sam said.
"They are pregnant and due in December. If I don't get permission to build the barn, I will lose them."
Sam's plan for the barn involves a 300sqm structure with a steel frame, block work, and a timber-clad exterior.
The barn is intended to be placed along the rear boundary of his property, shielded by natural tree cover to minimise visual impact.
However, 21 of the 22 public comments on his application have been objections, many of which argue that the barn is too large for the site and question Sam's right to access the land.
Sam claims these objections are baseless and that access has always existed.
He believes his accent could be a reason for the opposition he's facing.
"Otherwise, why would they object to me building a shelter for the animals?" he asked.
"I have been living in this country for 37 years, and my wife is English, but I think people don't like me because of my accent.
"You can hate me, but please don’t hate the poor alpacas," he added.
Sam registered his farm as an agricultural business, under the name Happy Home Farm, and obtained a country parish holding number for livestock.
The site itself is not located in any protected areas such as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a Local Nature Reserve, making Sam wonder why the application process has been so lengthy.
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Hampshire Highways has raised concerns about access to the farm, saying that Hockford Lane is narrow and lacks sufficient passing places.
It believes additional traffic could pose safety risks.
However, Sam's traffic surveys claim that vehicle movement on the lane is minimal, with only five to six vehicles passing per hour, reducing the likelihood of congestion.
A spokesperson for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said: "The responses from Hampshire County Council as the local highway authority are available to view on our planning portal: https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/.
"The applicant engaged a transport consultant following these objections and further information submitted is currently being assessed. As part of that assessment Hampshire County Council has been consulted on the additional information and determination of the application will be made once consultation and assessment is complete."
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