Part of the Avoncrop warehousing facility at Meare, Somerset was damaged by fire yesterday [Sunday].
Avoncrop holds one of the largest ranges of growing medias available to the UK horticulture sector, and the fire has affected stock held on part of the site and the Vapogro screening line. The remaining Vapogro production facility was unaffected. Fortunately no one was injured as the site was unmanned at the time.
Although early press reports suggested the presence of chemicals on site, Avoncrop said in a statement that no crop protection chemicals were stored at Meare, although straight fertilisers were lost.
David O’nions, chairman and managing director, said: “Immediate Vapogro production will be interrupted as we source an alternative supply of screened peat; however we hope to have this covered in the next few days and for the majority of our customers it is very much business as usual.
“Whilst this development will bring with it challenges, we do not envisage it being detrimental to our position as the leading supplier to commercial growers in the UK,” he said.
