Company hits back after enforcement action threat by Fenland District Council

AN angry representative of a company threatened with enforcement action has accused Fenland District Council of not doing enough to help expanding companies.

Peter Humphrey, the agent for PG Packaging of March Road, Coates, was responding to claims by the council that the company was in "flagrant breach" of conditions attached to lorry movements on the site.

Mr Humphrey said news of the enforcement action had surprised him since as recently as last Thursday he had joined company officials at a meeting at Coates with planning officers to resolve the issue.

"Enforcement was never mentioned," said Mr Humphrey. "I am left wondering why not? What do you tell a lorry driver when he has just arrived from Spain or Mexico with a cargo of soft fruits that he can deliver them? How can the council approve the soft fruit use but then not allow them to be delivered?"

Mr Humphrey feels the council must accept some buildings have 24 hour use, and that Fenland's 'open for business' policy should support it.

The planning committee is expected to approve enforcement action against PG in respect of movements to and from the site during the night.

Council officers revealed they had spent three nights between 10pm and 4am monitoring the site to prove violation of planning conditions.

"The owner has been asked to curtail the out of hour's activities and he said he would 'do his best'" said Bill Tilley, planning compliance officer.

"It was reiterated that the hours of operation must not be exceeded. A couple of weeks later we received further reports of the same activities of out of hour's operation continuing."

Mr Tilley said: "We, the council, need to take firm and decisive action regarding this flagrant breach of operating hours."

"Officers believe that there is a real threat of additional unauthorised working beyond permitted hours.