VILLAGERS in Meldreth are hoping to follow the lead of their neighbours in Barrington and form a liaison group to help combat problems caused by a noisy factory.

A public meeting is taking place tonight, Thursday, about the noise being generated by food distribution company Eden Farm’s factory in Station Yard, Meldreth. At the meeting, concerned residents will hold talks with the firms based at Station Yard, as well local councillors and Enviromental Health officers. Members of South Cambridgeshire district council’s planning department will also be in attendance.

Meldreth’s district councillor Susan van de Ven said residents are keen to work with Eden Farm and other companies in the Station Yard area to form a liaison group.

She said: “We want to follow a successful model they’ve used in Barrington, where they had a group of residents and councillors who workd with Cemex to minimise disruption caused by the works at Barrington quarry.

“That worked very well and as a result the amount of heavy lorry movements through the villages has been kept to minimum. Something similar in Meldreth would be good to give residents a chance to express any concerns they have.”

Cllr van de Ven said Eden Farm have been taking an active part in discussions, but that action needed to be taken quickly to resolve the issues raised by villagers.

As reported in The Crow last month, several people have complained that their sleep has been disrupted by what they described as “constant noise” being generated by the factory.

“This has been going on for months and years in some cases, I’ve heard of people having to move out of their bedrooms because of the noise,” said Cllr van de Ven.

“It’s a chance for Eden Farm to become more of a community business, but we do need to see some action being taken. There’s no point setting up this group if it is just going to be a talking shop.”

The meeting is taking place at the Elin Way Community Room, Meldreth, and starts at 7.30pm.