10:10pm Tuesday 16th February 2010
By Warwick Payne
A FIRM specialising in green energy and marine research can expand its Ropley base — despite opposition.
TSL Technology, which employs 22 staff, said it wanted to take on more staff, but had outgrown it current building next to the A31, which is roughly the size of two tennis courts.
Council planning officers had refused permission, arguing that it was a greenfield site in the country, and should be preserved.
Parish councillors in Ropley and nearby Bishop’s Sutton also protested.
Mike Yuratich, TSL’s managing director, said it had been trading for 18 years, and it would be “disruptive” if staff had to move.
He said the operation was a “clean and quiet local business”, and most of the work happened indoors.
Cllr Ray Pearce, Lib Dem, said: “I don’t see that in these times of credit crunch that we can possibly say no to these people.”
The committee voted unanimously to approve the plan.
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