A CONTROVERSIAL farm shop will open next week despite two years of opposition from nearby residents.

Rob Royd Farm Shop on Genn Lane, Worsbrough, was challenged by locals because they believe it will create traffic chaos and should not have been in the greenbelt.

It was built in 2005, but was unused for nearly two years while developers sought permission to sell “farm-baked produce”.

The application, originally refused by the council, was overturned at an appeal, which means staff will now be allowed to bake food such as bread and pies on the premises.

Judy Noble, 60, of Genn Lane, said the shop was a “travesty”.

“I don’t object to the man opening a shop, but why there? The local view is that he’s built it on greenbelt land, on a dangerous bend, so how has he got planning permission?”

She added: “It’s just a retail outlet on a nice bit of greenbelt and it’s three quarters of a mile from his farmstead.”

The shop was partially funded by a £57,000 grant from Europe and the government and includes a bakery, a butchery and a kitchen as well as the main service area.

It will allow farmer Rob White, 32, to sell his produce, including fresh meat, eggs, vegetables, bread, pies and jam, directly to consumers.

Rob said the shop was an essential diversification project for his farm.

“All farms are built on greenbelt land. I live on greenbelt land, the objectors live on greenbelt land. “That’s what farmers need to do to make their business survive.

“We’re just adding value to the products. If you put meat in a pie, you add value to it.

“Prices have been so low for many years, so we have to sell produce like this now to get a higher price, instead of selling to supermarkets where they dictate the prices that they give to you, and it’s usually very low.”

He added that the shop had created six jobs and he hopes it will create more. The shop opens on Wednesday.