Petition over plan for 32,000-bird poultry units near Market Drayton

Plans to create the free range egg units in Ollerton have been met with a storm of opposition from local residents.

Resident Duncan Farrow has launched the online petition after raising concerns about the impacts it would have on the environment.

Mr Farrow said: "In recent years Ollerton has lost valuable habitat in favour of poor quality development. This proposal is yet another blot on the landscape.

"The Tern Valley area in question is an unspoilt green field site where the unbroken countryside extends to the westerly horizon with no other buildings to be seen.

"In common with many other Ollerton residents, fiercely protective of the village environment, I strongly object to the needless industrialisation of greenbelt.

"There are a number of derelict brown field sites in the immediate area which must be considered.

"Shropshire Council has a duty to protect the rural environment from unwanted and inappropriate development, and to ensure the proliferation of steel framed buildings in the open countryside is stopped."

Stoke-upon-Tern Parish Council has also objected to the proposal after raising concerns about the impact it would have on infrastructure and the landscape.

Graham Bould, parish council clerk, said: "The parish council's view is that the proposal would be significant and have an adverse impact on the open countryside."

"The infrastructure is not fit for the proposed purpose and would require a huge amount of pre-application road improvements if the development was allowed as the scheme proposed is not viable for the additional heavy/large traffic the proposal would create."

Andrew Hollins has submitted a planning application to Shropshire Council to create the units, which would each house 16,000 hens.

A statement submitted in support of the application said the proposed development is designed to fulfil the modern demand for free range eggs.

The proposed buildings would extend to 76 metres by 19.5 metres and would be connected by a link building. They would include an egg store and packing area.

Once operational, the development would require two full-time workers on site.

Shropshire Council hopes to make a decision on the scheme by May 19. People can comment on the proposal as part of the consultation into the development via the council's website.

To view the online petition visit change.org/p/shropshire-council-no-chicken-sheds-in-ollerton