Bates Farms and Dairy Ltd in Southport will be able to expand its business operations thanks to support from Sefton Council.
The move will support 104 local jobs at a company which has been in Southport for 80 years.
Subject to the Company obtaining planning permission, the council will sell 0.75 acres of its freehold land at Broome Road in Birkdale to the company.
This will enable Bates’ to meet its need to create a larger yard for storage and existing delivery vehicles.
Cllr Marion Atkinson Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said:
“By making this land available to Bates Dairy, the council would be supporting the growth of a family firm that has been in Southport for over 80 years and which provides a milk delivery service to thousands of local people, while providing 104 jobs within the local community.
“The ability to expand on the site will help secure local employer Bates’ future in the town and will mean the company can invest and grow.
“Plus, the extra space will mean fewer on-site vehicle movements, which will benefit local residents.”
Part of a 22-acre, council owned site at former Isle of Wight Farm, the land is identified in the Local Plan as a possible area for housing.
Bates’ proposals for a small part of that area include the erection of a single-storey unit. Requirements for the development would include the Dairy erecting acoustic fencing and plans to deal with any resulting increase in surface water run-off.
Bates delivers the freshest milk, six days a week to over 10,000 doorstep and wholesale customers across Merseyside, Wirral and Lancashire in its fleets of eco-friendly electric milk floats, modern vans and hard working wagons.
Although the firm can provide milk in the modern plastic containers, it continues to bottle the white stuff in traditional recyclable glass bottles and deliver these, along with many other products to customer doorsteps on a daily basis.
The company also supplies local shops, mini supermarkets, garages, cafes, hotels, restaurants, and other catering establishments in the North West area so if you live anywhere nearby, the chances are you have already drunk a glass of Bates milk or have had a cup of tea or coffee with their milk not so long ago!
Local residents would have an opportunity to have their say on the proposed expansion through the council’s planning application process.
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