06/10/2025
FIVEWAYS FRUIT FARM
PLANNING APPLICATION NO 251888
Julian Mead
Dear Colchester Resident
Firstly, if you are a customer of ours, I would like to thank you. Retail customers have been the lifeblood of our business for over 20 years, and, it is true to say, without your customer, we would not still be in business.
Fiveways Fruit Farm currently has a retrospective planning application with Colchester City Council under consideration for 2 water tanks and 2 shipping containers on quarry land (which is owned by Julian and Alistair Mead) next to the farm.
IF THIS PLANNING APPLICATION IS REFUSED…. Unfortunately 12 people will be made redundant and soft fruit production will have to STOP IMMEDIATELY, as there will be no water for our crops. We have had an objection to the application from the Minerals and Waste Authority (Essex County Council) which assists with the management of quarries, but, as far as I can see, nobody locally has objected. This organisation is very influential with the planners, but I think the arguments that they have put forward are plainly wrong!
The Mead family has grown fruit in Stanway since 1937. To my regret, none of my children want to follow me into farming. It has been a challenging life but one that I have always been passionate about. I am in my late 60s and, it’s true I am reducing the area that I farm. But I want to do this in a structured way which minimises disruption to my staff and optimises the opportunities that are available.
I feel at sea with the planning these days; it’s all policies and strategy and it is so difficult to understand the policy considerations as a layman. But, I would suggest the bottom line with an application is whether the benefit to the local community and the wider world outweighs the disadvantages, and, I believe on balance, our application is on the upside. AFTER CONSIDERATION, IF YOU THINK SO TOO, I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT OUR APPLICATION BEFORE THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER.
Our farm shop off Warren Lane will continue whatever the decision of this planning application, but a refusal will affect fruit production that we still carry out on the main farm site. If you like our fruit and want us to continue, WE NEED THOSE TANKS!!
If the application is refused I feel great sadness for my workers here whom I still work alongside, and nearly all of whom have worked with me for a multitude of years, some up to 20.
TO COMMENT: Please Google Colchester City Council Planning Applications and enter the Planning Application No 251888.
Thank you for your support
JULIAN MEAD - MANAGING PARTNER
