Warehouse relocation anger

Angry residents packed into a public meeting to protest against an engineering firm's plans to shift its entire operation to Rugeley.

ROM Group has launched a bid to build a new industrial warehouse, offices, storage and HGV loading facilities at the Towers Business Park in Brereton.

The move would spell the end of its two existing sites in Cannock and Lichfield, but existing staff are expected to be kept on.

Residents in Brereton fear it will bring 24-hour manufacturing, disruption and pollution, and would not create any new jobs.

Many vented their anger when they crammed into a meeting of Brereton and Ravenhill Parish Council this week.

Roger Bird, of Lockside View Residents Committee, said many felt they were not consulted and it was too large scale. He said it would be much more disruptive than the light industrial businesses at the site.

"We were sold our house with mention of small retail units but this could be a steel-producing plant 24 hours a day," he said.

"We object most strongly to this on the grounds it is 24 hours, it is not a new development but relocation, and it will not bring new jobs. I cannot see how it is going to benefit the town."

The company, a specialist reinforcement manufacturing firm, is currently based in Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, with a smaller base at Watling Street Business Park, Cannock. The workforces and services would be moved to the new site.

Brereton and Ravenhill Parish Councillor Tim Jones said more residents should have been consulted and at an earlier date.

He added: "In my view the strongest arguments against it are it is too high and they have assessed the noise from machinery, when often the worst noise is from human activity like vehicles reversing and people loading and unloading lorries."

Councillor Gerald Molineux added: "Residents can still put their view before it is through planning." The plans have been submitted to Cannock Chase District Council. Nobody from ROM Group was available for comment.