Mushroom factory’s boss blasts ‘madness’ after appeal rejected

John Smith of Greyfriars UK, based at Wath, near Ripon, has submitted a number of different planning applications over the years to expand the highly successful business and create more growing space.

Greyfriars supplies Morrisons, Netto and Booths with mushrooms and other foodstuffs, including sweet corn and butternut squash, and is anxious to develop the site but his attempts have been opposed by local residents who set up a campaign group, Wath Against Mushrooms (Wam), to fight the plans.

They argue they are too large for the rural area and will increase the number of lorries visiting the site.

Alison Roland, a planning inspector, dismissed the appeal, upholding Harrogate Council’s decision, saying the main issue was the “effect on the character and appearance of the area.”

She said: “The buildings would also be seen from the wide site entrance,

“In my view they would unacceptably intrude into the open character of the field, to the detriment of the wider character and appearance of the area...

“Overall, on the main issue, whilst I have found in favour of the proposal on the issue of the colour of the buildings, this is outweighed by their isolated siting relative to the existing buildings, which would harmfully impact on the character and quality of the landscape.”

Mr Smith said: “I have been in this game long enough to roll with the punches and I am not going to lose any sleep over this latest setback. I don’t get worked up about it.

“I am trying to grow and develop our business and if planners don’t seem to be bothered with job creation then that is their concern.

“These latest plans would only have cost a couple of hundred thousand pounds but in September there will be a public inquiry into our plans for a £4.7m new growing shed which would give the local economy a significant boost.

“They would create 60 new jobs which would lead to the best part of £1m being pumped into the local economy in wages and salaries.

“It would be environmentally beneficial because there would be 3,000 fewer tonnes of carbon emissions being generated and the traffic situation would improve.

“My hope is that when that inquiry takes place the planning inspector will take a broader view of the big picture.

“Whatever happens I am optimistic that we will achieve our corporate objectives though we have spent £80,000 so far and not laid so much as a brick.”

The original plans submitted by Greyfriars are to build a 100m long by 70m growing shed and a three-day inquiry involving Harrogate Council will determine the future of the site.

A spokesman for Wam said: “We are delighted at this decision and feel that our on-going campaign has been thoroughly vindicated.

“Greyfriars’ expansion plans have so far been comprehensively rejected by the local community, the council and now by planning inspectors. When will they get the message? The countryside is no place for this development.

”Villages are already plagued by HGVs travelling to and from the site and, if the new complex is built, this number will increase hugely and communities will be swamped.”

As for the public inquiry in September he added: “We are putting together our plans to deal with that.

“We feel it would be hugely detrimental to the community and are determined to fight it.

“These kind of massive developments are not appropriate for the countryside – their proper place is on business parks.”