Council leaflets village to build opposition to firm's expansion
Tour of Crisp Maltings, Great Ryburgh. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: IAN BURT
A parish council is trying to get as many voices as it can to oppose major new developments in the village.
Ryburgh Parish Council is dropping leaflets through every door as it voices concern over Crisp Maltings’s planning applications for 15 new silos, a new relief road and an expansion of its factory.
The leaflet is a call to action for residents to visit the online planning application and voice their objections before the public consultation period ends on March 12.
Plans for the site's expansion. The site layout, divided into three planning applications. Photo: Bidwells/Crisp Maltings - Credit: Archant
The company, which grows and manufactures speciality malt, submitted plans last year to build 75 houses - since reduced to 50. The homes were reduced following significant opposition from village residents.
Crisp made further adjustments to its application as it hopes to get through the two remaining applications for the expansion.
Crisp Maltings grain silo in Great Ryburgh. Picture: Matthew Usher.
The council opposes the plans for several reasons, including increased HGV traffic, noise, pollution and loss of amenity to residents and pedestrians on Station and Fakenham roads, with fears of HGVs using the footpaths in the town to get by other vehicles on the road.
Speaking at the full council meeting on March 2, Elizabeth Savory, chairman of the parish council, said: “We are a young village, and we use the village street, it is our mainstay, it's a village full of community that likes to get out and about.
“We've got no guarantees about whether or not we'll get the road. I think development on the site is not sustainable and completely unsuitable.
An HGV mounting the footpath in Ryburgh - Credit: Steve Bushby
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“This is a village with an industry stuck onto it. It shouldn't get any bigger, it's got big enough for us to live with. The lorry situation is appalling.”
Leaflet dropping during the pandemic has become an issue for political parties, but councillor Jane Binstead felt they did not have any other option.
“We had no choice, the deadline for public comment is the middle of next week," she said.
Crisp Maltings could be set for a major expansion. Photo: Frances Brace - Credit: Archant
"We have no ability to have any form of public meeting or public discussion."
Crisp Maltings was approached for comment, but declined.
