Extreme temperatures mean refreshment kiosk is needed at Kinver Edge, National Trust says as plan lodged

The National Trust has said extreme temperatures due to climate change mean a refreshment kiosk is “much-needed” at Kinver Edge and it has now lodged an application for planning permission for the venture.

A plan submitted to South Staffordshire Council seeks permission to site a converted horsebox at the beauty spot's Comber Road entrance to sell drinks and snacks to visitors.

A heritage statement submitted to planners as part of the application states the kiosk 'would cover an area of no more than 13m2'.

Explaining the rationale for the proposal, it states: "The National Trust has 585 acres of countryside on Kinver Edge, with the only available place to purchase refreshments being the Rock House tearoom near the north side of the Edge, which is only accessible to members or those who pay for entry to the Rock Houses.

"Kinver Edge alone receives over 250,000 visitors per year. The tearoom does not have the capacity to cope with the demand from visitors to the Rock Houses and Kinver Edge. With increasing temperature extremes, refreshments are much-needed, particularly as there are walking trails with challenging topography, one of which is 2.5 hours long.

"Visitors today have an expectation, particularly at National Trust places, that they can purchase drinks and snacks. By placing the kiosk near a popular entrance where visitors can access the landscape, they would be able to purchase refreshments before/after/during their walk. As the National Trust does not charge for parking at Kinver Edge, no direct income comes from visitors to the countryside."

It says visitors to the beauty spot currently use the neighbouring Kinver Farm Shop for refreshments. Allowing a kiosk to sell drinks and snacks on the Trust's land would enable the charity to generate additional income to support its conservation work.

The mobile kiosk "would not be a permanent feature" it adds but it would be kept at the site indefinitely.

The National Trust concedes the plan "would add a new structure to the Green Belt, where the construction of new buildings is regarded as inappropriate development" but it says, given the small scale and portable nature of the kiosk close to the existing warden's lodge, it would "preserve the openness of the Green Belt". It would also meet the exemption rule for Green Belt development as it could be considered an appropriate facility provided for use in connection with outdoor recreational use.

The Trust further added: "Kinver Edge only provides one catering facility for visitors approximately 700 metres away from the current location of the kiosk, uphill near the Rock Houses. As we are experiencing more extreme temperatures due to climate change, particularly heat, the demand for facilities that provide drinks and snacks has increased and will only further increase. The kiosk is therefore part of planning for the future to meet the needs of visitors in a changing climate.”

The Trust added that the kiosk "would not impede any significant views, including the views from the hillfort or the setting of the Rock Houses" and said dense woodland surrounding the building would shield much of it from view from the immediate surroundings and it would also completely shield it from the Grade II listed war memorial which is located around 100 metres to the north.

People can have their say on the plan by going to South Staffordshire Council's planning portal https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/planning.

You can find out more about planning applications where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk.