Council Is Accused of Thwarting Company's Bid to Grow

Summary

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A BUSINESSMAN who supplies products for the likes of Jamie Oliver says his company's growth has been stunted by council planning officers. Despite recording profits in excess of Pounds 100,000 for the year, Paul Johnson of St Kitts Herbery in Camelford, North Cornwall, says a decision by Cornwall Council to refuse him permission to build on the site has limited his employment options and the ability to secure large contracts. St Kitts Herbery produces a range of consumable products, such as toiletries and chocolates, made from herbs grown on the premises. Mr Johnson can count Mayfair Hotels and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall restaurant at Watergate Bay among his list of clients, while his herbery premises have also attracted 92,000 visitors this year - up 40,000 on the whole of last year. However, the council refused Mr Johnson permission to build a new "live work unit", comprising living accommodation and factory, on the grounds the business did not make enough profit.

Mr Johnson said much of his profit was invested into the company, and has accused the council of scuppering a potentially lucrative contract worth Pounds 140,000 a year, which would have created a minimum of six full-time jobs. He said: "We were turned down on the grounds that our accounts were two years old and that we weren't making enough money.

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Council Is Accused of Thwarting Company's Bid to Grow

"We have reinvested our profits year on ...

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