Princes accused of not being 'good neighbour' to Long Sutton over fence planning saga

Princes was accused of not being a ‘good neighbour’ to the people of Long Sutton – as councillors agreed a compromise over an ‘acoustic barrier’ at its factory.

South Holland District Council had taken enforcement action after the food manufacturing firm put up a barrier at its Bridge Road site in the wrong position.

Princes had then asked to keep the fence – which is supposed to block out noise for nearby residents – where it now was, but was turned down.

At the authority’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday, council development manager Richard Fidler explained the new plan was a ‘compromise position’ – and will see the fence shifted back 1.2 metres. The new location is not as far back from the road as originally planned – but should allow planting in front of it.

Long Sutton councillor Jack Tyrrell said he did not understand why the company could not stick to what had originally been agreed – with the fence set well back from the road.

He said: “The idea of this was to soften the blow of having this adjacent to the main road. Why doesn’t it just be put back to where it was going?”

The committee had been told that Princes needed more space behind the fence to carry out operations at its pea plant.

Coun Tyrrell said: “I honestly don’t believe that.”

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones said it would be nice to see the end of this
application and criticised Princes’ approach to the matter. He said: “They have not been a good neighbour to Long Sutton and those residents which is disappointing and a sad reflection on them and the management in that location.”

He added: “We do need to
remain vigilant with Princes and ask them to please behave better going forward with anything that they do.”

Long Sutton councillor
Andrew Tennant said the new plan was an improvement on the current situation and was what residents had been asking for. He added: “Princes are by far the major employer in Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge. It would be a brave councillor to object to plans they they put in simply because we want them to stay here.”

Committee chairman Coun James Avery said the plan was an improvement, adding: “Above all else, it will hopefully put this one to bed and reduce officer time spent looking at this and other Princes applications.”

Ten members supported the new fence location but Couns Jack Tyrrell, Bryan Alcock and Angela Newton voted against it.