Mushroom cloud hovers over farm expansion plan

14th September 2019

Controversial plans by a mushroom grower to expand its business in Southport by building a new farm are being opposed by the Scarisbrick village’s parish council.

Family firm Smithy Mushrooms, based on Smithy Lane is a leading producer of exotic mushrooms in the UK.

It wants to create a site on nearby Bungalow Farm, Heatons Bridge Road which it says will create 70 jobs.

Local residents, however, claim the farm would “more like a factory” and that the rural roads will not be able to cope with any more lorries.

More than 60 residents attended a Scarisbrick Parish Council, meeting about the proposals.

Local resident Vicky Murphy, who attended, said: “The prevailing concerns voiced was over the traffic on the rural roads. The number of HGVs using nearby roads is already ridiculous”