Sackers, in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich, withdraws expansion plans after public backlash as Cllr Chris Chambers speaks out

A Suffolk councillor has said he agreed with concerns raised by residents as a fire-hit scrapyard withdraws expansion plans following public backlash.

Chris Chambers, who represents Gipping Valley for the county council, said people in and around Great Blakenham were worried of the risk of future fires at Sackers, in Gipping Road.

Sackers submitted plans to expand the north of its site just days before a massive fire ripped through the complex in August, which were validated shortly after the blaze.

Cllr Chambers felt the proposals were not well timed and met with the firm on Friday to discuss several issues shortly before they were withdrawn.

However, he said he remained committed to working with the firm.

He said: “It is in everyone’s best interest if they continue to operate within the community – they hire 82 people from the area.

“However, the public had a right to be concerned. Many felt the expansion to the north of the site put surrounding buildings at risk in the event of another fire. The latest incident only highlighted this issue.”

In total, 37 objections were lodged by the public against the plans.

The fire at Sackers was started by a discarded battery. It was the third fire at the site since the start of 2023.

In addition to future fire risks, residents also raised concerns over air quality and noise coming from the site, Cllr Chambers said.

According to Cllr Chambers, Sackers seemed ‘disappointed’ with the public’s response to the plans, that they were being ‘unfairly judged’.

However, Cllr Chambers said there were key takeaways from his meetings with the firm, including what the county council could do to raise awareness of proper battery disposal.

He and Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP, Patrick Spencer, spent time on Friday promoting the safe disposal of lithium ion batteries.

“Battery fires are tough to put out as there’s very little you can do to extinguish the flames,” Cllr Chambers said.

“However, we’ve been seeing what we can do as a council to assist in raising awareness of proper battery disposal, and I’ve been raising these issues with Patrick to see if there’s anything he can do from a Parliamentary standpoint.”

Sackers were in contact with council officers about how the disposal of batteries could be tackled from a household waste perspective, he said., due to them being present in so many day-to-day items.

The firm was dedicated to reducing the risks of fires in the future, looking into a scheduling system, he said.

Cllr Chambers described the campaign to raise awareness of battery disposal as a ‘slow drum beat’.

He added: “I took a paper to cabinet on Tuesday about simple recycling. We’re a lot more aware of what can and can’t be recycled and where it can be done.

“Behaviour will change, but it will take time, and I think Sackers has realised that.

“But residents’ concerns are my concerns and I have to represent those.”