NANTWICH Farmers' Market breathed a sigh of relief when the government announced it would not have to get planning permission for occasional events.

It had been feared that the government would insist that organisers of occasional events like gymkhanas or food fairs would have to obtain planning permission.

But last week, the government's planning minister, Jeff Rooker, issued a statement saying the ability to hold infrequent recreational and fund-raising events was "of significant value to rural communities and in particular to farmers."

"A change to the planning provision would ultimately place a burden on rural business and run counter to the government's wish to promote farm diversification," he added.

The National Farmers Union organised a stakeholders meeting on the issue in April in response to the proposals, where they unanimously voted against further planning controls.

John Seymour, the NFU's planning chairman, said: "The department has recognised that these events have operated successfully for decades under the current system without problem and that they have a huge social and economic value to rural communities.

"We are delighted that the organisers of village events like fetes and farmers' markets will not face the further burden of planning red tape - these events rely on a handful of dedicated volunteers and a shoestring budget that would not have stretched to this."