Woodstock residents file complaints over potato chip plant noise

In Woodstock, New Brunswick, a group of 17 residents has filed complaints against Covered Bridge Potato Chips, alleging the company's recently opened production facility has disrupted their neighborhood with excessive noise, odors, traffic, and intense lighting. The potato chip maker, which relocated operations to an industrial park in the town about 100 kilometers west of Fredericton following a fire at its original plant, stated it is actively addressing the concerns and remains in full compliance with regulations.

The facility began operations in September 2025, less than a year after a March 2024 blaze destroyed the company's plant in nearby Waterville. Residents, many of whom have lived in the area for decades, initially submitted their claims to the provincial Farm Practices Review Board. They could escalate the matter to the Court of King's Bench if the board determines it falls outside its jurisdiction. The group contends that the factory's expansion, including the addition of a 30,000-litre propane tank to fuel fry cookers and the removal of natural vegetation that once buffered residential areas, has substantially affected their quality of life.