A MASSIVE state-of-the-art soft fruit pack house is earmarked for land off the A49 trunk road at Windmill Hill, at Harewood End.

Growers A.J and C.I. Snell say it is vital for their rapidly expanding business to meet the stringent requirements of supermarket chains.

Herefordshire Council planners were yesterday (Wednesday) considering the request for the roadside complex near Harewood End, opposite the new entrance to the Duchy of Cornwall Harewood Park Estate.

They were expected to say 'yes' in principle but to attach conditions over tree planting and landscaping to mitigate against nuisance from refrigeration units.

Making a plea for the pack house A.J and C.I. Snell of Pencoyd Court said they grew 315 acres of soft fruit last year, producing 700 tons compared with 563 in the previous season.

The majority of fruit - strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries and tayberries - was prepared for J Sainsbury supermarket chain, a business exceeding £1.8 million.

The Snells had developed a close relationship with KG Fruits Ltd who acted as marketing agents for soft fruit for the Midlands and Southern Counties to Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury, Tesco and other multiples.

Their business had expanded so much it was now the sixth biggest supplier to KG Fruits out of a co-operative grower base of 70 producers.

At the moment the Snells rented packing facilities at Much Birch but with the significant increase in business these could no longer cope. The access was also difficult because it served the church, doctor's surgery and others.

Although it would be possible to accommodate a new pack house at Pencoyd Court buildings would need extensive upgrading and the narrow country lanes were not suited to large vehicle movements.

The building at Harewood End would have a floor area of 2,150 square metres with access on to the A49. It would provide an area for soft fruit packing, a holding area, a cool store, a packing store, dispatch holding, staff canteen, offices and a lorry docking.

It was expected at least 10 new full time jobs would be created, with additional seasonal and casual needs.

Both Harewood and Pencoyd parish councils have no objections in principle but both would like it moved back on the green field site to ease fears over noise and light.

The council has had six letters of from local people raising issues of extra traffic,noise, loss of privacy, smell from rotting fruit, out of keeping with the area, risk of serious accidents on a dangerous piece of road, a commercial venture as opposed to agriculture and a plea for serious landscaping.

Some had concern over accommodation for the workforce with no infrastructure in the village to accommodate them.

In an appraisal report planners say the principle of a new soft fruit pack house was acceptable. With measures proposed and recommended it was considered the proposal would not adversely impact on the surrounding landscape or residential amenity.