Developer pulls plans for huge chicken farm
THOROTON VILLAGERS ‘DELIGHTED’ AFTER UNITING TO FIGHT PROPOSAL
A DEVELOPER has pulled plans for a large chicken farm near the village of Thoroton following outrage from residents.
People opposed the plans citing a study which claims living near poultry farms puts people at an increased risk of pneumonia and respiratory problems.
The planning application was submitted by Smite Farms Limited in August and proposed the development of four poultry buildings, a gate house, biomass boiler building and the creation of a new access road and car park.
Dan Hoye, who has lived in the village for five years, told the Post he was “delighted” at the news.
He said: “It’s a rural and lovely little village surrounded by farm land.
“As far as the community is concerned we have not got a great deal of additional information, but we are delighted it is not going to be on our doorstep.
“But it is not to say another application may turn up in the coming months or years, which we will have something to say about.”
The proposed poultry houses would have been built just 600 metres from residents’ homes and housed up to 220,000 broiler chickens.
Residents had raised concerns over ammonia production. However, in an ammonia report Natural England said it had “no objection” to the plans as it would not have had an impact.
The overall plans received 124 objections, while there were three supporters.
Some objections had raised particular concern about the air quality surrounding the farm.
As a result, Ian Pick, on behalf of his client Smite Farms, told the Post: “The application has been withdrawn.”
A Facebook group called Opposing Industrial Farms in Thoroton was also set up after the plans were lodged back in August.
In response to the withdrawal, the group said: “Rushcliffe Borough Council has announced that the application for another industrial chicken farm 500m outside of Thoroton, has been withdrawn. We have no further details at this time, but the withdrawal is likely to be in response to additional analysis submitted showing the unsuitability of the site, as well as the mounting public pressure.
“We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who supported the campaign because without your objections we wouldn’t have been able to share the opinions of the local community.
“This campaign was about industrial farms around Thoroton but also the increased level of industrial farming across the country.
“It was by no means opposing the vital contribution British farmers make to the country.”
Mr Hoye also said the campaign has had another positive outcome.
He added: “I think it has galvanised the community.
“It has awoken something in the community, we are all now much more connected.”