A MUSHROOM factory would "destroy a village" according to people living there.

Villagers in Pinvin say the "enormous" factory would dominate the landscape yards from homes and schools and would bring noise, dust and dirt.

Pinvin Parish Council is ready to take on its Wychavon counterparts to halt plans for the factory.

Councillor Steve Mitchell, vice-chairman of Pinvin Parish Council, aims to lead an army of residents opposed to the planning application from Walsh Mushrooms.

The company aims to build 81 poly tunnels – tunnels typically made from steel and covered in polyethylene – and associated buildings on a plot covering more than 50,000 square metres on the A44 just 200 metres from the village.

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It would go on open farmland but noise, odour, traffic, pollution and the proximity to homes and Pinvin and St Nicholas schools forms the basis of the backlash.

“It is literally on the edge of the village,” said Cllr Mitchell.

“It is around 150 yards from the school and 150-200 yards from houses, an enormous factory occupying many, many acres on the doorstep of a school and residents.

“The other reason is the enormous amount of traffic it would produce, they are talking about 76 lorry movements per day and that is only an initial estimate.

“It would destroy the village. From the south we have factories in Pershore, to the west we would have the mushroom factory which would be an enormous blot on the landscape and if work on the Throckmorton Airfield comes to pass we will have problems to the east.

“Pinvin is in danger of becoming enclosed by factories, the biggest of which is this mushroom factory."

No date has been set for the application to be heard by Wychavon with a spokesperson confirming no recommendation had been made by officers.

“We cannot tell what line the planning committee will take,” he added.

“I am sure many of them will, if they can, take the point of view that it is an agricultural development and ask what the problem is.

“We know we have some support on the planning committee itself but they are not willing to say that yet.

“We have the support of the school, the parish council and people who are forking out money from their own pockets to help fight this campaign.

“If there is anyone who is in favour of this, I have yet to find them.

“There are many other places it could go, it does not have to be in the countryside.

“They have a packing facility at Vale Park, Evesham and there is enough room there to build this mushroom factory.

“If I was half a mile from the village we might not complain so much but it is right there."