By Jenni DixonTWO new grain silos are to grace a seaside town's skyline after councillors approved last night the final phase of a brewery's £3million expansion.

By Jenni Dixon

TWO new grain silos are to grace a seaside town's skyline after councillors approved last night the final phase of a brewery's £3million expansion.

Members of Waveney District Council's rural development control committee approved Adnams' plan for the installation of the silos, a chilled water tank, an energy recovery storage tank and external alterations to its building in East Green, Southwold

It follows the installation of seven new fermentation vessels and two hot-water brewing tanks in the old bottling plant in Victoria Street earlier this year, which has freed up space in the main brewery building for a new brew steam.

Waveney councillor John Goldsmith said: “The brewery has done a lot of changes over the years and none to the detriment welfare of the town.

“The brewery has got to improve to keep up with standards. If this is the last phrase, then good luck to them.”

A council report said a decision had been taken, in principle, many years to support the continued existence of Adnams in Southwold and this was the final phase of the brewery's development.

Jonathan Adnams, the brewery's managing director, said: “We're absolutely delighted. It's very nice to get the support.”

The plan had been criticised by the Southwold and Reydon Society, which said the brewery had outgrown the town and the expansion could adversely affect the town's tourist trade.

Mr Adnams said he would be happy to talk to the society about its concerns, but he also defended the brewery.

“Adnams brings £45m into the local economy a year and spends £2.5m annually on marketing Southwold. No-one has done more for building Southwold's reputation,” he added.

Mr Adnams said the new equipment would replace apparatus that was at the end of its working life, while the new brew steam will be more energy efficient, reduce air and noise emission and be more environmentally friendly.

He added that most of Adnams' lorries would no longer need to drive around the picturesque town's narrow streets when a new distribution centre was built in Reydon in two years' time.

jenni.dixon@eadt.co.uk