CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a giant chicken farm on the edge of Malvern are proposed for the ‘best available space’, according to the applicant.
Fears have been raised after proposals to construct four chicken sheds, which will house 200,000 chickens, on land at Chances Pitch in Colwall were re-submitted to Herefordshire Council.
Residents vented their frustration at a heated public meeting at Colwall Village Hall on Thursday (August 6), with concerns centred around noise pollution, smell and traffic.
Philip and Richard Houlbrooke also got the opportunity to defend their application, which they believe had been done in ‘a sensitive way’.
“We have to develop, we can’t stand still,” Philip said. “We have to keep progressing to stay where we are.
“This is the best site which is available.
“We wanted to put it at the far end of the field away from dwellings but Herefordshire Council wanted us to put it as close to the road as we could as they didn’t want a lot of roads being built.”
Resident Martin Wyness also said he was ‘amazed’ people in the area did not support the proposed development.
“I can see the point of view for people living right beside it, they have the best right to ask any questions but everyone else I don’t understand what they are arguing about,” he added.
“For someone to say something is wrong then everyone to applaud just shows the way everyone is thinking.”
The Houlbrooke’s said there would be no intention to expand the sheds if plans were approved. It would also take five and a half months to set up.
However, Tracy Elgar, a resident of Colwall, said she did not believe it was the right location for a chicken farm.
“There is a lot of talk about the need for chicken and the national need for chicken but that is not a planning consideration here,” she said.
“Planning considerations are whether it is the right location for industrial parks, which it is not, and not whether we need to supply the nation with chicken.
“We did a leaflet drop to raise public awareness and collected over 100 signatures of objection in less than three hours.”
Rich Hadley, former Ledbury Town Councillor, added: “When I was at Ledbury Town Council we had the first application come to us and it was quite clear this would be a disaster for the area.
“We already have a terrible problem with traffic travelling through the medieval streets of Ledbury and this would be a terrible intrusion.
“The stench also coming out of the sheds is unbelievable, it is gag-worthy.”
