Suffolk County Councillor Chris Chambers seeking answers after fire at Sackers in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich

A Suffolk councillor is seeking answers after a massive fire ripped through a scrap metal recycling centre last week.

Chris Chambers, Suffolk County Councillor for Gipping ward, said that residents of Great Blakenham have become more vocal with their concerns in the wake of multiple fires at Sackers, in Gipping Road.

Crews from across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex attended the scene on Thursday after a blaze, most likely started by a discarded battery, engulfed the premises.

It was the third fire at the site since the start of last year.

Cllr Chambers described each blaze as worse than the last – and called on Sackers to reassure the public it was doing all it could to prevent future incidents.

He also said he would be engaging with both the firm and the Environment Agency to seek answers about licensing and safety measures.

Cllr Chambers said: “This was not the first fire. Incidents like this are not fair on residents and they have a right to feel unsettled by this.

“I was in Haverhill on the day of the blaze and could spot it, but it was seen as far away as Bury St Edmunds.

“We’ve had a good weather spell and I feel for people living in and around Great Blakenham, who had to keep their doors and windows shut for 24 hours and were advised not to go outside.

“We’re trying to promote a healthy lifestyle and we can’t expect people to be cooped up indoors. It’s certainly not ideal for the middle of August.”

Cllr Chambers said he’d be writing to both the Environment Agency and Sackers in due course.

“It’s important that this isn’t seen as a witch-hunt,” he said.

“We recognise Sackers as a vital local business and employer, but we need to reassure the public who will be concerned for future incidents, particularly when they are this large.”

Cllr Chambers said an issue raised with him by residents was that Sackers did not reach out to the public.

This meant they were unaware of what measures or safety mechanisms were in place, which only added to their insecurity, he said.

However, he also raised concerns about the strain on the system incidents like this caused.

Yesterday, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service revealed that a discarded battery was the most likely cause of the blaze

At its peak, 14 engines – and about 80 firefighters – battled the fire at one time.

Roads in the village were closed and rail lines between Ipswich, Cambridge and Ely were disrupted.

Cllr Chambers wanted to highlight not only the risk of life to residents, but also emergency workers.

However, he also felt prevention required the public to be educated on the dangers of improperly disposing of batteries.

There are 11 recycling centres in Suffolk that accept batteries, while many supermarkets will also dispose of them.

Cllr Chambers urged residents to ensure they recycled batteries properly and to not leave them in household waste.

However, he said accidents do happen and it was vital to ensure measures were in place should the worst happen to stop the situation getting out of control.

Cllr Chambers added: “Other businesses in the area have a good relationship with the parish council to get their messages out there and to my knowledge Sackers do not do this.

“We need answers and assurances as residents should feel safe in their homes and so Sackers can continue to operate safely at its site.”

On Friday, Sackers Scrap Metal and Waste said it was working with the fire service and other relevant authorities to address the incident.