Denbighshire residents object to sheds for more than 100 cows over smell fears

Richard Evans, local democracy reporter

Residents in Llandyrnog fear bad smells from two cow sheds granted planning permission by Denbighshire County Council.

Mr Huw Jones and A & M Evans Farms applied for permission to erect two agricultural buildings for livestock at Glan Y Wern Farm on Whitchurch Road, Llandyrnog, Denbigh.

The buildings will include the installation of a feed silo and an underground effluent tank. The plans, which were minded to be approved,  also include a surface water attenuation pond to help manage the risk of flooding.

But four residents living in nearby cottages objected to the plans, fearing smells from animal excrement and ammonia. The cattle sheds will hold 48 young calves and 72 ‘young stock’.

Agent David Haston addressed the planning committee, reassuring councillors the smell would not be a problem.

Mr Haston said: “Objectors have raised various matters that are relevant to this planning application. All of these have been addressed to the satisfaction of statutory consultees and the case officer.

“In particular it’s worth noting that the proposed development is not large-scale. In fact, it constitutes a small or minor development. This type of agricultural enterprise does not constitute an intensive livestock unit, as defined within the environmental impact assessment regulations.”

He also claimed the ammonia levels would not affect nearby ancient woodland.

“Detailed ammonia impact assessments have demonstrated to the satisfaction of Natural resources Wales that ammonia emission on active wildlife sites would be negligible,” he said.

Cllr Merfyn Parry supported the application.

“I haven’t got any concerns with this application, although I did see the community council were supporting it,” he said.

“And there were a few local residents who had their concerns, which I contacted the officer at that time to deal with those. Predominantly most of those have been dealt with. Through Natural Resource Wales and the agents, they have managed to overcome any concerns.

“Some of the concerns the neighbours had was how close it was to them, but having looked at it, the cottages are located about 250m away from the new buildings, and they are screened. There is a 60m depth of woodland between the buildings and the cottages, and there is 200m of farmland as well. So I think the location is pretty isolated and away from them really. I did take note of the local residents’ concerns, but I think they’ve been addressed, and it is what it is, so I’ll propose this application, chair.”

Cllr Mark Young seconded the proposal, and the decision was backed unanimously by all 15 councillors.

Council officer Paul Griffin also said the odour was unlikely to bother residents, adding there was an odour management plan in place.