A MOVE to relocate Peter's Ice Creams factory from Ipswich to a Suffolk village - opening a shop and laying on coach tours to the site - has sparked opposition from some residents who fear their rural peace and quiet will be shattered.

A MOVE to relocate Peter's ice cream factory from Ipswich to a Suffolk village has sparked opposition from some residents who fear their rural peace and quiet will be shattered.

Peter's Ice Creams are currently still based in their traditional home. But, as exclusively revealed in The Evening Star, they are intending to move operation to Barking, near Needham Market.

The factory will have three full-time and two part-time employees and it is proposed that two coach parties a week will visit the factory and its shop.

Mid Suffolk district councillors were today debating whether offices and a warehouse depot on the Lion Barn Industrial Estate in the village can be converted into an ice-cream factory.

Barking parish and Needham Market town councils have both backed the business relocating to the site.

However, there remain some local doubts. Villagers fear there will be litter and noise generated by the coach parties and shop, there would be machinery working at night and possible emissions from the factory including odours, gas, steam and noise.

But in a report to councillors Gary Pullan, planning control manager, said the number of employees and coach parties will not generate a significant increase in traffic using Lion Lane, or significant increases in noise locally.

He said the factory would continuously operate two electrical compressors, one for a cold store and one for a freezer.

Mr Pullan, who is recommending the application is approved, said both compressors would be located in a sound-proof container, and no generators would be used unless there was a power cut.

The council has been told that the noise produced by the equipment would be similar to that produced by three domestic freezers.