The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pheasant farm appeals enforcement notice
Brechin: Objectors attack operator’s decision to appeal as ‘totally inappropriate’
Rural residents have blasted a further twist in a pheasant farm saga as “totally inappropriate”.
Objectors to the 300,000 bird unit at Mains of Keithock, near Brechin, hit out after that operators appealed an enforcement action with Angus Council.
Stracathro Estates lodged the objection after claiming it did not have enough time to comply with demands that would have unlocked a six-month extension to their operation.
In November, Angus Council’s development standards committee unanimously approved an enforcement notice against the operation on land close to the A90.
The estate was given until January 19 to submit odour, waste, noise and pollution management plans as well as a vermin and pest control strategy.
The appeal against the enforcement action claims the period for submitting the required mitigation measures was “unreasonable” and requests an extension to February 28.
Chairman Hugh Campbell Adamson said the reports have now been commissioned and they are hoping to receive them shortly.
Resident Andrew Greaves said: “Mr
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We are not appealing the decision itself and have every intention of ceasing operations at the current site on September 30 before moving to a new site once planning permission is obtained. HUGH CAMPBELL ADAMSON
Campbell Adamson himself, when addressing the meeting, was fervent in his assurance that they would do all that was asked of them in return for this extension to end of September 2018.
“To announce suddenly now that they have not been given enough time to do as required is beyond belief and totally inappropriate.”
Another objector, Stephen Rickman, said: “The submission of these reports is required by the council to enable the appellants to unlock a significant concession that will allow them to continue to operate on the Keithock site from the beginning of April until the end of September this year,” he commented.
“Surely they would be better engaged in achieving that objective rather than antagonising everyone with an appeal?”
Nearby households will submit their comments to the directorate for planning and environmental appeals in support of Angus Council.
Mr Campbell Adamson said: “We are not appealing against the decision itself and have every intention of ceasing operations at the current site on September 30 before moving to a new site once planning permission is obtained.”
The pheasant farm had been operating at Mains of Keithock for two years on a seasonal basis before the owners were informed planning permission was required.
A retrospective application was initially lodged but has now been withdrawn and the company has made plans to quit the site in 2018.
An Angus Council spokesman said: “Given that the matter is now the subject of an appeal, it would not be appropriate to comment in detail on the appeal.”