Residents say Covered Bridge Potato Chips operation in Woodstock Industrial Park disrupting their lives
Neighbours Gordon Porter and Susan Ryan would like to sit on their front porches, but say that’s not possible as long as the Covered Bridge Potato Chips’ newly renovated production plant continues to operate on Charles Street in Woodstock.
Porter and Ryan, along with other residents who own homes in the Poole Street subdivision, say the potato chip operation has prevented them from enjoying their properties.
In a letter to the Woodstock Town Council in early September, neighbouring homeowners expressed concerns about noise and odour levels, as well as the removal of trees from the property. Residents recently formed a group called ‘Our Town, Our Voice.’
The building in the Woodstock Industrial Park was bought by Covered Bridge Potato Chips in 2011 and used predominantly as a storage facility until their factory in Waterville was destroyed by fire in March 2024. This spring, the company expanded the building, constructed additional structures, acquired adjacent land, and created more parking space.
Area residents say constant noise and odours have upended their lives since production began at the new facility.
“We’re not against the company itself; we want to see it succeed, but we have concerns about how this has happened, and how quickly,” said Porter, who is a spokesperson for the group.
The River Valley Sun sat down with Porter and Ryan after residents submitted a Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RTIPPA) request to Woodstock Town Council.
“You can’t even sit outside anymore,” said Ryan. “One neighbour said she hung her sheets on the line one day, and when she crawled into bed that night, all she could smell was deep-fried chips. That might seem pleasant to some, but after a while, you get sick of it.”
Porter and Ryan say neighbours aren’t just upset with the company, but with the town and what they say has been a lack of checks and balances.
“How could they have allowed such a plant to operate in what is considered a ‘light’ industrial park?” Ryan wondered. “This is directly adjacent to homes. I don’t consider this ‘light’ industrial.”
“This is a pretty big operation,” said Porter, “and yet no one from the town or the company consulted with residents before the expansion. Some homes are mere metres away from the plant. Recently, media reports on the expansion talked about 24/7 production, going from three fryers to five.”
“We’ll never be able to open our windows again if that happens,” said Ryan.
Porter says his group wants answers from the town and was hoping to make a presentation to the council. In an email, Mayor Trina Jones told Porter that the RTIPPA request would need to be addressed before the council agrees to a presentation in an open session.
“They are standing behind the formality of the office so they don’t have to hear our complaints,” said Porter. “They suggested the delay in responding (to the RTIPPA request) was due to competing priorities, which provides little comfort.”
Ryan said their group was hopeful when the CAO came to visit, sitting on their porch and discussing the issues. She says their hope is now fading.
“We can’t hang our clothes out, you can’t keep your windows open for the smell and the noise. We can’t enjoy our properties,” said Ryan. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”
Aside from the group’s request to address the noise and smell issues at the Covered Bridge Chip plant, neighbours want the town to “do better.”
“If this was allowed without consultation, then they need to update their bylaws,” said Porter.
Homeowners in the neighbourhood would like to see the town conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with noise and odour limits, review and enforce zoning regulations to prevent industrial operations from encroaching on residential zones, establish a clear, transparent complaint and reporting mechanism for neighbours impacted by industrial activity, and proactively engage the community before approving any further expansion or operational changes at the plant.
“We have nothing against the company; we want people to have jobs, but not at this location if it means we have to live with the smell and noise,” said Porter, who has lived on Henry Street for 50 years.
The River Valley Sun emailed and left telephone messages for Covered Bridge Potato Chips Vice President Brook Dickinson, but got no response before our deadline.
In an interview with the Post Media, Dickinson said the company was operating in “full compliance with all applicable town and regulatory requirements and remain committed to acting responsibly,” adding that Covered Bridge Potato Chips has taken steps to “minimize potential impacts and will continue to evaluate additional measures as needed.”
Woodstock Mayor Trina Jones confirmed that she has been in touch with company officials, but stated that she would not comment on the issue until the RTIPPA information is collected and neighbours and councillors are briefed.
