Suffolk-based bakery Palmers (Haughley) Ltd has successfully won its battle with Haughley Parish Council, over an access road to its bakery, almost six years after the dispute began.

Located on Haughley Village Green since 1869, the family bakers has been fighting the council after it raised objections to the bakery’s use of track over the green, which the firm has used for its deliveries since it was established.

The track, which the bakery pays to maintain, is the only way that delivery vans can access the bakery, explained fifth-generation baker Kieron Palmer.

The council formally stated that they wished to deny Palmers access and services under two Victorian acts of Parliament, claiming it was a criminal offence to use the track, even though the council was selling access to other businesses on the green, and we could prove there had been rights to access in existence since 1189, said Palmer.

“Haughley Parish Council, together with Mr Jeffery Bowden, capitulated and withdrew their objections to our access and services, asking for terms of settlement shortly before legal hearings commenced,” read a thank you letter, sent out by the bakery, in which it also thanked the 20,000 people who had come out in support of the bakery.

The council was also asked, by the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry. to pay Palmers’ legal costs, which amounted to around £17,000. The council had already spent £50,000 on the case, which Palmer said it was advised many times not to proceed with.

>>Village turns out in support of bakery