[Sativa]

Plans to establish the UK's largest hemp processing plant in the heart of Norfolk have been given the go-ahead despite objections from residents.

On Monday, Breckland councillors approved the controversial £3.5m Camp Farm application for Roudham, but imposed a series of conditions.

Under the proposals from Essex-based company Paul Rackham, the hemp processing plant will be built on a former storage site, operate round the clock for up to 300 days a year and employ 14 people.

Farmers across Norfolk and Suffolk will provide it with the 7,000 acres of hemp it would process each year. The material will be turned into interior car panels, housing insulation and building materials, horse bedding and fuel.

But Roudham householders fear the plans will mean increased traffic, create more dust and have a harmful effect on wildlife.

Councillors recommended that hours of delivery be restricted from 7am-11pm and that highway improvements be completed

to include access visibility splays. There should also be no working on Sundays and bank holidays.

Another condition requires the applicant to restrict the use of the building to hemp processing only.

Speaking at Monday's council meeting, John Labouchere described the site as “monstrous” and said steps should be taken not to “wreck our bit of Norfolk”.

The planned hemp plant is part of a 13-building site which includes six farm storage buildings and six facilities for agricultural use.

Principal planning officer Nick Moys attempted to allay fears, claiming the proposals would be subject to planning restrictions.

He said the factory and the other storage buildings on the farm would be served by a maximum of 83 lorries a day and that a transport assessment to support the plans found that by maintaining the verge of Roudham Road it could be widened to six metres along its length.


Newshawk: CoZmO - 420Magazine.com
Source: Thetford and Brandon Times (UK)
Contact: terry.redhead@archant.co.uk
Copyright: 2006 Archant Regional
Website: http://www.thetfordandbrandontimes.c...A39%3A08%3A757