Mushroom supplier Greyfriars (UK) Ltd has come under fire for its new £4.5 million despite meticulous planning for its environmental impact.
Campaigners near the site in Wath have garnered 160 names for a petition against the proposed 7,000sqm facility amid concerns over increased traffic in the area.
But Greyfriars has hit back, branding the campaign “emotional” and pointing out it plans to reduce traffic levels by 12 per cent with the development and could receive approval to take 100 per cent of its traffic away from the village.
Chairman John Smith told freshinfo: “I think it has been a very emotional reaction. If you look at the plans we intend to reduce traffic by 12 per cent with fewer pre-packed, imported mushrooms coming to the site.
“We are working with the relevant authorities to see if we can arrange some passing places on a nearby road which would divert traffic away from the village.
“What is frustrating is that [the campaigners] have completely ignored the work we have done in saving food miles, and reducing the environmental impact, including our plans to plant 15,000sqm of woodland.”
Greyfriars has sought legal and political advice following the row including seeking the support of the ministers for agriculture and employment.
The company has submitted plans to Harrogate Borough the facility which will include 12 growing rooms, a packing store, coldstore and offices.
A spokesman for the Wath Against Mushrooms, told Darlington & Stockton Times: "This is a real David and Goliath battle - we are taking on a pan-European food conglomerate and we feel their new plans will further blight Wath.
"Industrial-sized operations such as the one proposed should be on dedicated business parks and not built on a greenfield site down narrow country lanes.”
Smith said: “This is an agricultural development, where else can we locate it than the countryside.”
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