THE business at the centre of a storm over the volume of HGVs on country lanes in Wickhamford has called on residents to support plans to move its distribution arm.

Fresh For All on Badsey Lane is being investigated by Cotswold District Council on the back of complaints that road safety is being compromised by 20 lorry trips per day, a figure disputed by the company.

Worcestershire County Councillor Liz Eyre raised the issue and is part of a collaboration between residents, Badsey & Aldington Parish Council and Wickhamford Parish Council to gather relevant evidence amid claims the company is in breach of its planning permission.

The company acknowledges it imports onions from India for packing and distribution as well as growing on site but director Rajdeep Singh maintains all operations are within “lawful use”.

In a bid to resolve the impasse, Mr Singh says he will seek to shift the packhouse to a site he owns off Evesham Road, North Littleton but that he needs residents to support the proposal that has been in his mind for some time.

Growing would continue at the current site with smaller vehicles – “most likely a tractor and trailer” – taking those onions to the new packing point

“It has better road access and is probably around 10 minutes away,” said Mr Singh.

“It was early days for the business at that time so we had to generate the cashflow, we didn’t have the money to support the project at that time.

“I have contacted my planner a couple of weeks ago and he has put together dimensions for the site to try to get permission there. If we can get the local community to support us, we can move which is better for us and better for the community as well.

“Hopefully planning should be (put forward) by the middle or end of January.

“I would move the operation over to the new site except for the growing on site. This would stop logistics delivering or collecting from the site.”