The Wild Root x Merryhill Farm

Paul 2026-01-21 11:49:02

From what I can see and have witnessed this site should not be progressed and work should cease without proper local authority planning consent as it would appear not to meet the requirements for club exemption.

Firstly there is a requirement for no neighbour objections for the site to be granted an exemption certificate from a recognised club; there are clearly many objections including my own.
Secondly there appears to be significant works currently being undertaken on the site which contradict the club membership application statements around existing utility supplies. These utility works also breach the criteria regarding no fixed underground services on temporary sites. I also cannot see anywhere how the proposal for hot tubs, showers etc, meet the requirements for the use of  movable structures without permanent foundations like concrete bases, decks with posts etc. to allow the granting of club exemption certificates.
Thirdly the site cannot be accessed easily or safely; Windsor Lane is a busy road. The site access on to Windsor Lane is limited, obscured and at a point between the school and recreation ground where there are often many children crossing the road, other pedestrians and parked vehicles. This has already been evidenced by the issues I have witnessed with delivery vehicles trying to access the site whilst the current ground works have been underway, with these vehicles having to make numerous attempts to turn into and out of the site due to the limited and potentially unsafe access to the site.

As well as the above points which, I believe, mean the site does not meet the exemption certificate criteria and should only progress if there is local authority planning consent granted. I also object to the site as a local resident on the points raised in other comments around concerns regarding: noise and light disturbance, security and privacy of the school and local residents and the impact on this green belt land within a Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the associated impact on local wildlife including foxes, badgers, deer, bats, owls etc.

It would also be useful for any future applications to have better signage to allow consultation before work progresses.

Ian 2026-01-20 11:43:20

Road Safety Hazard: Access from Windsor Lane to the proposed glamping site is via a single lane track for at least the initial part of the journey. If a vehicle entering the access track from Windsor Lane meets an outgoing vehicle the incoming vehicle may need to reverse back onto Windsor Lane to let the outgoing vehicle pass. Highway Code Rule 201 states: ‘Do not reverse from a side road into a main road’. This means that vehicle access to the proposed glamping site will introduce a road safety hazard. In the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Woodland Champions website it states that a glamping exemption will not be granted where access is inadequate or unsafe.
Current Works: Works are currently underway at the proposed glamping site. Please state what these works are. Do these works breach paragraph 30 of the Certified Sites Terms & Conditions as published on the Woodland Champions web site?
Site Risk Assessment: Please confirm that a risk assessment has been carried out for the proposed glamping site. Have any issues arisen about access to the site for emergency vehicles?
Neighbour Objections: In the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Woodland Champions website it states that neighbourhood objections would prevent a glamping exemption being issued for the site. How many neighbourhood objections, or what other criteria, are required to trigger this?

Vicky 2026-01-19 13:19:01

I totally understand that land owners are having to expand their scope in order to continue to be profitable in the current economic environment and admire the land owners for exploring all options. I have enjoyed several breaks in glamping sites myself, though generally these have been more remote from existing housing and schools etc, and this location feels incongruent to my previous experience.

In addition to the other comments below covering wildlife, privacy, noise, security, safeguarding which I also have, should this application be granted, I wanted to understand the following:
- How the site will be managed should any issues arise that cannot be dealt with locally?
- How the site will be contained beyond the proposed area, including parking etc?
- What limitations are there on this effective change of use being a basis for which to change the site to residential and build, especially where services are being installed?
- What limitations are there on the progression from glamping tent to touring tent to caravan to fixed caravan?
- Exactly what structures are proposed and how many?
- At what point does the council and planning permissions become involved in these decisions?
I'd also like to note my disappointment that Woodland Champions Club have not been more visible in their notices of this site. Perhaps, with more open communication, many of these questions would already have been answered, rather than it appearing that WCC were hoping this would go unnoticed by the village. I am sure the land owners would have appreciated better advice on this process from WCC to avoid these discussions.

Sara 2026-01-19 12:18:53

Hi.

I am slightly surprised by the lack of communication to the interested stakeholders on this matter. I have heard about it by word of mouth and I am not pleased about this. The disclosure on your webpage is lacking any form of content and does not provide sufficient details for me to be comfortable with the process.

I would like to know what the communication process is and how you met the requirements for publicity. Grateful also if you could share the applicable laws and regulations so that I can double-check due process has been followed.

I recently bought a house on Windsor lane and I checked ownership of the field and whether there were any planning permissions and there were not. I would not have gone ahead with the purchase had I known that I was going to have people at the bottom of my garden or anywhere near on the road. Little Kingshill is a small village and I chose it because it is quiet and has a strong sense of community. I don't particular have a desire for this to change.

What kind of guarantees will you be able to provide as to the low impact of this project? A glamping site is likely in my experience to attract all sorts of parties and in my experience it will be impossible for you to ensure the noise is kept to an acceptable level.

This project has the potential to seriously compromise the quality of life of all the people living in the area and I don't feel this has been taken into account in your disclosure. Also, I do not understand reference to the 2 and 14 acres respectively and to the "agricultural/equestrian". In addition, there is no mention of how many cabins you plan to build. Depending on number, this may have an impact on traffic and noise level. Also, having strangers around, possibly doing recreational activities, makes me concerned about safety and may lead to an increase in illicit activities in the area. I am concerned about having to create a higher /tighter fence at the bottom of my garden. I would appreciate if your position could be clarified in light of these comments and your disclosure updated accordingly.
Many thanks,

Also, I would like to understand what is the legal basis for the works that are currently been done on the premises? I would assume that a glamping site does not require any underground work.

Anna 2026-01-18 19:06:13

We live in close proximity and have the following concerns. 1) traffic on Windsor lane is already very busy especially at school start and end times, this would add considerable additional congestion. 2) the access path to the site backs directly onto the playing fields of the local primary school (which is only fenced by hedge row). This is a serious safeguarding issue as anyone on the glamping site could enter the school grounds unnoticed. 3) security risk to houses and gardens backing onto the site 4) noise and light disturbance to houses/gardens and livestock in adjacent fields.
We have also noticed that there is currently significant work happening on the site to add what looks like water piping and hard standing meaning the camp couldn’t be returned to its pre camp status in 24hrs which we believe is one of your requirements.

Malcolm 2026-01-18 18:50:32

Site Application is pending and states use of existing water and mains supply, however Infrastructure Work to install pipes has commenced (without planning permission, and contradicting the application) - The ringed location is a field that has no pipework to connect the lodges (with showers, hot-tubs, lighting) and could not possibly be restored to its original state within 24 hours as per your T&Cs - diggers have been in action all this past week to partly install some infrastructure cabling
The ringed site location is a grass field has no hard standing for vehicle parking or for siting lodges - will this be required permanent infrastructure, which is not allowed as part of WCC T&Cs
Safeguarding Risks – The site access path runs adjacent to the playing fields of Little Kingshill primary school only separated by a wire fence, giving site visitors who walk the path access to talk to the children, give them sweets, etc.
Traffic congestion - the site access is via an unmarked unlit single track with unmade surface and no/few passing places, which exits onto Windsor Lane which get highly congested with school traffic
Noise Pollution – the glamping site connects directly to the rear gardens of Savanna, and Half Hidden on Windsor Lane who will suffer car noise, residents/partying noise, hot tubs, generators, wood burners
Privacy Loss - Depending on exact siting of the caravans and tents, windows from the Caravans will be looking into the rear gardens of all the south-facing residents of Windsor Lane
Light Pollution – at night, the Caravans and tents will be highly visible over the 2m high boundary fence and thin row of trees
with the possible installation of much higher ‘street-lights’ to light the glamping site access road and parking areas
Security Risks – Glamping site visitors have easy pedestrian access to all South-facing Windsor Lane the rear gardens via a field owned by the glamping site owner - Dowdy
Wildlife Disturbance - there is free roaming wildlife in the immediate area - roe deer, muntjac deer, badgers, foxes - that residents enjoy seeing, all will be disturbed/scared off by the glamping site
The Greenbelt AONB will be damaged by this glamping site and I (and other residents) strongly object to the granting of a planning exemption - if it is justified, let the local planning committee make the decision

Stuart 2026-01-18 17:39:45

Our house backs onto the fields where the application has been made for a glamping site. We have concerns over the fact that the development of the site appears to be progressing before any application has been finalised or meeting to voice concerns. Our concerns include light pollution and expansion into further fields purchased by the applicants. The site is a key hunting ground for barn owls and any disruption to this including permanent lighting and noise from campers will be damaging to their environment.

Srikanth 2026-01-17 12:16:07

Hi, This is a woodland area used regularly for walks by the local residents. Children from all over the village walk to school and walk along this green area. This woodland area is also surrounded by houses and longterm residents of the village. The use of this area as a glamping site will cause significant inconveninence. It is likely to be noisy and cause disturbance and nusiance to the local residents. In addition, it is likely to raise safety issues for the children walking to school and a number of local residents who use the area for running and walking. The access roads to the village are already struggling with the diverted traffic due to HS2 works and a general increase in the number of residents driving to work. Addition of a glamping site will result in further disruption, chaos and prolonged traffic delays. A number of us are professionals ( I and my wife are doctors) and face increasing problems with traffic in the mornings and have to leave earlier each term to get to work and additional traffic will not really help. I would have strong reservations about the proposal and would like to submit my objection to it.

Laura 2026-01-14 18:01:38

1. Please can you position further notices in little Kingshill as the current one is not on a pavement and it's positioned in a place that no one can really read it safely, please can you position a notice near to Merryhill farm so nearby neighbours can see it. looking back at your other applications many have no comments so perhaps the location of these notices needs some more thought.
2. My elderly parents live close to the site(HP16 0DZ) and I would like to understand the exact position of the glamping units and where they will be located on the site? How many you will have? How many is the unit for? Maximum number of people on the site at any one time if fully booked? As I understand this is a 365 days a year business.
3.What will the glamping units be - non permanent tent like structures as glamping suggests or will they be a luxury wooden cabin type and therefore a more permanent structure? The Wild Root company that is teaming up with Merryhill farm ( as shown on your application form) shows on their website images of a wooden clad wall and a wide picture window? I would be really interested to see the structural drawings of the units and materials proposed or have they been built constructed already perhaps a visit? ( Wild Root is launching in spring 2026.
4. Will the glamping site be for families, couples, large extended group bookings or even hen parties?
5. Will there be any rules regulations around playing loud music during the day or late into the evening? How will this be managed if there are noise nuisances?
6.Woodland mentions hot tubs, saunas, indoor and outdoor showers, bath and wifi - in this long list this does appear to include permanent structures and do these need planning permissions and if not why not?
Without any details on your notice it is unclear what exactly is being proposed and Woodland champions ( maybe glamping tents/yurts?) appear to be doing something slightly different to the Wild Root ( luxury wood cabins) , not to mention the scale, the number of guests, type of guests and whether there would be restrictions on booking out all the glamping units to essentially hold loud noisy parties in someone else's village?!
Without clarity it leaves a great many questions not answered and a site visit by some closer neighbours may indeed be most helpful to understand the implications of this proposed 2 acres glamping site.
I hope you can answer my questions in detail and I really do believe a site visit would be extremely helpful and hopefully reassuring for the closer neighbours. Please let me know if that would be possible.
thank you Laura