Poultry farm bid raises concerns about free-range chicken tunnels
More fears have been raised about plans to make polytunnels for 500 free-range chickens permanent.
The polytunnels at a farm in Sandford, near Whitchurch, were approved at a meeting of Shropshire Council's north planning committee this week, following objections from neighbours who claim rats and flies are plaguing the area.
The buildings were allowed to be made permanent at the meeting, with a number of conditions imposed to restrict waste and site management.
Nearby residents David and Janet Martin said they now have to buy bottled water as they claim their water is unsafe to drink because of the chemicals used at the chicken farm.
Mr Martin said: "Our water is from a bore hole and was fine when we first arrived but since the chicken farm it has turned our kettle dark green.
"We have stopped drinking the water and don't even give it to our dogs.
"The chickens are not just in the polytunnels - they have over taken everywhere.
"It is an absolute nightmare."
Another neighbour Ann Ellis said she feared rat infestations and fly problems would continue.
She said: "My back garden looks right on to the poly tunnels.
"We have got rats, we have got flies, a new neighbour has arrived and she has already had to have the environmental health team out because she was just overrun by rats.
"I've seen rats as big as cats, swarms of flies. We've informed Shropshire Council on numerous occasions, it is just awful.
"Then there is the noise and the smells emanating from the field. We can't use our gardens anymore.
"It is a nightmare living here and on top of all this, we have the road - and there have been two accidents on these bends in a week
"I am thinking of appealing, and have also sought legal advice as I don't think the neighbours have been considered in this planning decision.”
Applicant Mr Haynes said he had involved a number of organisations including DEFRA to ensure he was following the right protocol, and added that it was a family business that he did not expect to grow any further.
A number of conditions have been added to the planning application, including a condition requiring the developer to produce a waste management plan for how the chicken manure is disposed of.
A further condition was agreed to produce a site management plan, which would see two sheds currently on the site cleared and removed so birds cannot be kept in the buildings.
