Potential pollution issues from a proposed massive poultry factory farm was on the agenda at a recent public meeting.
The application, by Holbeach Poultry Ltd would see more than 3.8m chickens go through the unit in Whaplode Drove each year.
Lincolnshire already has a high level of ammonia pollution, according to figures recently released by Compassion in World Farming (CWI), and another huge unit will just add to the problem, say campaigners.
The public meeting held in Holbeach St Johns heard from a number of protestors about the application that was submitted to South Holland District Council a year ago. There were discussions about how to proceed with campaigning in the future.
Resident Michele Franks lives across fields from an existing eight-shed unit, on New River Gate, now operated by Boparan Private Office, which has acquired Hook2Sisters, the previous owner.
The company operates more than 150 poultry units across the country.
Michele says she will be stuck between the existing units and the proposed new 12-shed unit – and her health has already been affected.
“It affects my breathing, I’m asthmatic and when they clean the sheds out we can smell it. The smells come across the field. It’s not severe, but my breathing changes and during the summer it’s much worse,” she said.
There is also the issue of the continuous noise while the sheds are being cleaned when each batch of birds is sent to the abattoir.
“It can go on all night and we can hear it. We’re not the only ones – a lot of people are in a similar situation.
“If the new one is approved, we will be in the middle of both of them. If the wind comes from the east we already get the smells from the existing unit, and then from the west as well if the new unit is built. My health matters too. There’s a reason these aren’t built on the edge of towns – the smell.”
When Michele moved to Holbeach St Johns 20 years ago, the existing unit was a turkey farm which had a slower rate of turnover, the sheds were not cleaned so often and the smell wasn’t an issue. But when it became a chicken unit the problems were quick to appear, she said.
The proposed unit will have 12 sheds off Peartree Hill Road, Whaplode Drove, with a turnover of birds every 38 days. The application is by Holbeach Farms Ltd where one of the two directors, Stewart Adams, is also the director of at least ten similar farms.
The proposal, submitted last March, has yet to be approved. Among the objectors are Holbeach Parish Council, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Fenland Aero Club and CIWF. Historic England says the site is in an area of high potential for Romano-British archaeological remains.
“It is important that the decision make understands the importance of the archaeological remains on site,” it said.
A recent ‘ammonia map’ (above) shows Lincolnshire to be a county more affected than most by the by-product of intensively farming animals.
“Once released into the air, ammonia reacts with other pollutants to form fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution,” says CIWF.
A design and access statement submitted with the 12-unit application says it includes provision of a dead bird unit.
“The proposal is considered to result in limited social impact,” it adds.
