Family win permission to rebuild crisp factory after ‘tragic’ fire
The Corkers Crisp factory caught on fire in 2020
A crisp factory will be rebuilt after a fire burnt down most of the complex back in 2020.
The new Corkers Crisp factory is set to be built at the same site off Westmoor Common, between Little Downham and Pymoor.
Councillors at East Cambridgeshire District Council were told at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday (April 2), that the new factory would be better designed and more sustainable than the previous facility.
Ross Taylor said it had been a “tragic day” when they lost their family business to the fire five years ago.
He said: “We supported a lot of jobs over the years and brought a lot of young people into jobs and trained them and it was a very good starting point for youngsters to learn new skills.
“It has been a big journey for us as a family to lose our family farm, we were so proud of this business, it was such a big loss to the area.”
Councillors heard that the redevelopment of the factory would see the reinstatement of 120 jobs in the area.
However, some concerns about the plans had been raised by people in the area.
Jack Eagle said it was “unclear” why an increase in the number of car parking spaces at the factory was being proposed.
Professor Anthony Martin said he objected to the development on the grounds of “public health and public amenity”.
He explained that he remained concerned about the emissions from the new factory, as he claimed the council did not know the “human health impact” of pollution from the facility.
Councillor Christine Ambrose Smith said she was “very supportive” of Mr Taylor’s family rebuilding their business.
However, she highlighted that “some quite serious questions” had been raised by one of the objectors about the emissions from the factory.
She asked if Mr Taylor had looked into these concerns and addressed them.
Mr Taylor explained that the only thing emitted from the previous factory had been condensation.
He added that in the new factory this would be reduced as they planned to reuse this as part of a steam turbine.
Mr Taylor said anything in the condensation would be captured during this process and the factory “basically won’t emit any fumes at all”.
Councillor Alan Sharp said it was “great” that the redevelopment would bring back 120 jobs to the area.
He also said Mr Taylor seemed to be “taking advantage of that very sad situation five years ago to actually change the development, so it can be better”.
Cllr Sharp asked for more clarification around the car parking at the site, referencing the concern raised about an increase in spaces.
Mr Taylor said the old factory had “not been designed very well” and that cars had previously parked lined up along the track next to the site.
He said this was “not an ideal situation” and explained that the opportunity to rebuild the factory meant they could redesign the site to make room for all cars to park within the grounds.
Mr Taylor said there would not be room for extra cars, he said it was “just a better designed layout”.
Councillor Lucius Vellacott said the redevelopment to rebuild the factory offered a “huge employment benefit” and said he would support the application.
Councillor Bill Hunt also said he would support the plans adding that he recognised it “must have been a very difficult time” for Mr Taylor and his family since the fire.
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the plans when a decision was put to a vote.