Plans to convert a store into a storage facility in a village south of Ipswich have been approved by Babergh District Council, despite criticisms from neighbours. 

Proposals were submitted in August by Wilkinson Planning Ltd on behalf of Ben Poole to convert Park Farm Barns in Wherstead into a storage and distribution facility.

Many villagers raised concerns about the number of HGVs these plans would bring to the area bordering the community hall. 

However, after consulting the UK law on privacy, the officer decided to approve these plans with the condition that the HGVs could not enter the main part of the village. 

The agent had previously written to the council stating that when Park Farm Barns was created as an agricultural store, they had built a filter lane that would ensure that vehicles coming to the store did not have to pass The Street in Wherstead. 

This lane can take the HGV load, which the agents state will ensure that none of the load has to go through the village, and no additional comments or concerns were raised by Suffolk Highways regarding this.

In the approval, the planning officer wrote: "As suggested as part of the application this route would be utilised by any delivery vehicles to avoid the use of Wherstead village itself."

Villagers wrote to Babergh District Council stating that they felt with the narrow lanes of Wherstead there was a risk of their privacy being violated. 

As a result, the officer had to consult Article 8 of the Human Rights Act of 1998 which protects an individual's right to respect for their private life, family life, home and correspondence. 

"I have considered Human Rights Act 1998 issues raised about this proposal including matters under Article 8 and the First Protocol," the officer wrote. 

"I have taken account of exceptions to Article 8 regarding National Security, Public Safety, Economic and well-being of the Country, preventing Crime and Disorder, protection of Health and Morals, protecting the Rights and Freedoms of others.

"I confirm that the decision taken is necessary, not discriminatory and proportionate in all the circumstances of the case," they added.