Could I be the first to congratulate Mr Brian Batchelor (director of Green Farm Event Management Ltd) on his brave but misguided attempt to achieve two firsts, the first licenced paddock in the UK and the first ASBO against all his neighbours? (see Comet,

Could I be the first to congratulate Mr Brian Batchelor (director of Green Farm Event Management Ltd) on his brave but misguided attempt to achieve two firsts, the first licenced paddock in the UK and the first ASBO against all his neighbours? (see Comet, April 13, p2)

I admire his style and wish him luck in his ventures. He has managed to get a premises licence from North Herts for 12 events (weddings, business functions, etc) on his property, which he insists on describing as a 'paddock', against concerted opposition from all his neighbours. Many pubs in North Herts will be beating a trail to his door to find out how he achieved this.

He has also submitted a planning application for gated access to his 'paddock', carefully not mentioning anything to do with the events he plans to hold in his 'paddock'. Of course he also carefully omits any mention of the additional traffic the events in his 'paddock' will create, up to 200 people so on a good day only 50 extra vehicles on a single track lane. On a bad day, of course, who knows how many limo louts will be touring St Paul's Walden parish at closing time?

And then the anti-social behaviour order department at the council has been told as well. So, ASBOs all round apart from Mr Bachelor who sees himself to be blameless and, according to his planning application, only intends to create a "mini parkland garden''.

The fault here lies in the misguided granting of the premises licence - what on earth were the licencing authorities thinking of? Did anyone consider the extra traffic on narrow lanes much frequented by ramblers, dog walkers, cyclists and especially horse riders (there are three livery stables within a short distance of Bendish)? Did anyone consult the residents of nearby villages (Whitwell, St Paul's Walden in particular)? Were the police consulted on public order and traffic matters?

I write as a resident of Whitwell who might be affected by the noise and possible light pollution arising from the events at Green Farm, but who will certainly be affected by the additional traffic.

Rick Fears, Horn Hill, Whitwell