Uproar at plans for chicken farm 32,000 birds planned for egg production plant
Plans for an egg production plant near the village of Ardler have been temporarily withdrawn after they received over 100 objections.
Residents of the tiny east Perthshire village have united in their fight against the plans, submitted by Grewar Farming, which they say came to light just days before the deadline to register objections closed.
Describing the news as a “bombshell” local residents held a protest meeting in the Ardler Tavern last week, attended by around 50 people, and had another meeting planned for Tuesday night just as the Blairie went to press.
Local councillors for the Strathmore ward have been invited to attend the meeting.
Former councillor for the Blairgowrie and Glens ward, Bob Ellis, recently moved to the village and will be co-chairing the meeting.
He said: “The majority of the village has now registered objections to these plans.
“We’re hoping that the strength of feeling in the village about the proposals will encourage the farmer to re-think the whole thing.”
Local resident Anthony Troon has lived in the village for 24 years.
He said: “The plan by local farmer Peter Grewar to set up an egg production plant a few hundred yards from the village of Ardler came as a complete bombshell to residents.
“Since February, without their knowledge, there have been discussions on a proposal which would install 32,000 chickens as
their neighbours. There had been no consultation with the villagers, who learned of the plan though local newspaper listings only three days before the deadline for objections to be lodged.”
By the time the deadline for comments on the application closed on Friday last week, 108 objections had been lodged against the proposals.
Residents’ concerns include the infrastructure around the site, vermin, and the smell and environmental impact of the proposed 32,000 chickens.
Mr Troon explained: “The plan is to service the egg factory via the unlisted road between Ardler and Keillor. These roads are narrow, built for the horse-and-cart age.
“They are supposed to be part of a the cycling network. Modern cars cannot pass each other on these roads without one mounting the verge. Even a modest-size lorry takes up the entire width.
“There are no plans to widen the road or install proper passing places so the verges will undoubtedly deteriorate.”
He went on: “Grewar Farming owns many thousands of acres of land, and there is no reason why they should choose this site.”
Mr Troon added there had been no consultation with the local community, and the “clandestine nature of proceedings has aroused antipathy and suspicion.”
In a statement announcing their intention to temporarily withdraw the plans, Pete Grewar said: “Grewar Farming very much welcomes the local interest in our current proposal for a free range egg enterprise.
“While we have done everything that was required of us in terms of extensive preapplication discussions with Perth and Kinross Council we would accept that the people of Ardler and the surrounding area have not been part of those discussions, and further we recognise that they have not felt that they have been given enough time to fully appraise and comment on the application. Therefore we have this morning [Tuesday] given instruction to temporarily withdraw the planning application so that local residents are given the time that they have asked for to look at this. We hope that the local community engages with us over the coming months in a constructive manner.”