Community leaders have welcomed an agreement between a controversy-hit animal feeds firm and a council’s planning department to restrict the hours its HGVs can operate.
Ian Mosey (Feed) Ltd has withdrawn its appeal against enforcement action by North Yorkshire Council.
And the family-run business has settled its lawful operating hours. It says this will end uncertainty for communities about HGV movements to and from the Howardian Hills-based feed mill.
The agreement does not impact on the livestock and arable arm of the business. But it appears to signal progress in a long-running row between the firm and residents of villages, such as Oswaldkirk, which the firm’s lorries regularly pass through to distribute 250,000 tons of animal feed annually.
Residents had claimed, in its ambition to expand, the firm had displayed “complete contempt” towards them with trucks rumbling past their homes in the early hours causing them to have “a severe lack of sleep”.
In response to a series of complaints North Yorkshire Council issued an enforcement notice earlier this year alleging the firm had breached of a planning condition designed to restrict the hours lorries were permitted to operate.
Under the agreement, all commercial vehicles connected with the feed mill can only operate in the area from 5.30am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 5.30am to 6pm on Saturdays.
The firm said it had already adopted practical measures to ensure compliance, including installing barriers on the feed mill gates with cameras.
Major employer
Since being established at the rural site in 1979, the firm has grown to become one of the UK’s leading animal feed manufacturers as well as one of the country’s largest independent pig producers, leading some residents to claim the company is no longer suited to a rural area.
A major contributor to the area’s economy, directly employing around 170 people, Ian Mosey also plays an important role in the UK’s food supply chain and provides income to more than 400 farms.
Its managing director, Ian Mosey, said the firm had always been committed to “supporting our local community”. He said: “We believe this change gives us all clarity to move forwards with those commitments.
“We want to minimise disturbance to nearby villages, while ensuring we secure and create more local jobs. It’s encouraging to note we have received a lot of support from people who recognise our positive contribution to the surrounding rural economy.”
Mr Mosey’s daughter, Becky Milne, said the firm would continue to consider measures to help ensure compliance with the agreed operating hours.
She said: “We want to secure the future of our business and have a positive impact on our local community.”
Helmsley and Sinnington councillor George Jabbour said the deal had been reached after “everything possible” had been done to support the affected communities.
He said: “Whether it was arranging a protest, raising the issue with the media and with both the current North Yorkshire Council and its Ryedale predecessor, using the locality budget or writing to residents to encourage them to attend council meetings to voice their concerns, every avenue has been explored.
“Today is a positive step forward on this long journey. It is now incumbent on all parties to constructively collaborate with each other for the sake of our local villages.”