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Plans for controversial 100,000-chicken farm get the green light

20 Dec 2021 2 minute read
Photo by Michael Czarick by UGA CAES Extension, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

Elgan Hearn, local democracy reporter

Controversial plans for a 100,000-chicken farm near Welshpool have been approved by a Powys County Council planning officer using delegated powers.

The Bright Family will now be able to build two broiler poultry buildings and the associated infrastructure at their Groes y Garreg farm between Berriew and Castle Caereinion.

The application had been opposed by villagers and a petition asking the proposal to “Cluck Off” which garnered 950 signatures.

Opponent concerns included having hundreds of trips a year by Heavy Goods Vehicles on the winding to and from the farm and that it would also be just 500 metres away from the nearest neighbours.

In her report Powys County Council planning officer Louise Evans said that the proposal had received 133 objections while there had been 78 messages of support.

Back in October 2019, Berriew community council voted to back the scheme.

Sustainability

Ms Evans said: “It is recognised that there are arguments both for and against the sustainability of intensive livestock units in the UK as well as the overall impact of the development on the environment and local populations.

“All development has an impact, and it is the role of the planning authority to assess whether the impact is acceptable or unacceptable.”

“The development is considered to be compliant with local and national planning policy and it is for that reason that the development is supported.”

“Having been assessed and taking into account the comments of consultees and members of the public, the development is considered to not unacceptably affect the environment.”

She said that the development would be given “conditional consent.”

Amongst a list of 25 conditions the Brights have to comply with is that all manure, dirty waters, and ammonia scrubber liquor generated by the
development has to be taken away to be disposed of at a licensed facility – it cannot be spread on the land.

Plans for vehicle passing bays including the relocation of road signs and junction improvements  on the B4385 and C2005 roads need to be submitted and approved by the council’s planning department.

These need to be built before work on the farm can start.


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j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago

There’s one in Abergele, near Castell. All residents protested and not listened to.
Now they have to put up with the awful stink! When will people be listened to ?

John Brooks
John Brooks
2 years ago

Powys is the chicken capital of the UK. This decision didn’t even go to the Planning Committee, approved by an unelected official. Disgraceful show of contempt for democracy.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  John Brooks

Not a lot a planning officer can do if applications comply with the plethora of antiquated English laws which have built up over the years. WAG got the Law Commission to examine the problems and their 192 suggestions were that Wales needs a single Welsh law on Environment and a single Welsh law on planning. The consolidation will bring together provisions relating to planning from numerous Acts, including the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; the Planning and Compensation Act 1991; the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994; the Environment Act 1995; the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; the Planning… Read more »

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

This is the type of industrialised venture that gives farming a bad name. Having very obvious environmental effects there should be a cap on the size of these units. I don’t know at what level but the evidence to date suggests a lot lower than is currently entertained

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