By David GreenFURIOUS pensioners have denied claims that a smell from a nearby factory was making them "prisoners in their own homes".The allegation was made at a meeting of Eye Town Council, which has been debating for many years issues surrounding the smell from the town's Grampian Country Foods chicken slaughtering and processing factory.

By David Green

FURIOUS pensioners have denied claims that a smell from a nearby factory was making them "prisoners in their own homes".

The allegation was made at a meeting of Eye Town Council, which has been debating for many years issues surrounding the smell from the town's Grampian Country Foods chicken slaughtering and processing factory.

One town councillor, Barbara Krawiec, suggested the smell was making elderly residents in the adjacent Tacon Close sheltered housing complex "prisoners in their own homes, with doors and windows shut for six out of seven days a week".

But the occupants of 22 of the 24 bungalows in the housing complex have signed a letter taking issue with the comments.

The letter, which is being sent to the town council, said: "We the undersigned residents of Tacon Close wish it to be known that at no time have we said that we feel imprisoned in our own homes.

"On the contrary, on summer days we have our doors and windows open and are able to sit outside to enjoy the fine weather."

Their letter added Eye was "not a heritage museum for newcomers - it is a thriving country town".

The letter was the idea of 87-year-old Grace Burrows, who lives in one of the bungalows and took exception to Mrs Krawiec's comments.

"I felt it was ridiculous to say we are imprisoned in our homes - some of us have had our dinner outside all the time during the recent hot weather and it has been lovely," she said.

Another resident, Winifred Bennett, added she was furious about the councillor's comments.

"The only reason we close our windows around here is when thick smoke drifts over from bonfires on the nearby allotments. Very seldom do we get a smell from the chicken factory," she said.

Alan Cooper, a town councillor and former mayor, said there was an occasional smell from the chicken factory, but it did not occur every day and he felt it was not as big a problem as sometimes claimed.

"Grampian tends to get blamed for every smell, whether it is from their own factory or pig farms on the outskirts of the town," he added.

Mrs Krawiec said her comments had been based on a conversation with the daughter of an elderly couple who live in Tacon Close.

"Everyone knows there is a problem with the smell from the factory. Homes in Tacon Close are nearest to it and I am not sure why all these residents are now denying it is a problem for them," she added.

Mid Suffolk District Council has urged residents concerned about smells from the factory to log the days and times and inform its environmental health department.

Alistair Cox, spokesman for Grampian Country Foods, said: "We have spent a considerable amount of money and effort reducing odours at our plant and we are pleased to hear that we are receiving positive reaction from some residents."

david.green@eadt.co.uk