Council eyes prosecution of firm over fly plagues

Council officers are preparing to prosecute a Shropshire poultry farm blamed for causing plagues of flies that infested nearby communities.

In a letter to members of Stoke-on-Tern Parish Council, North Shropshire District Council said it intended to prosecute Lloyds Animal Feeds Limited for failure to comply with an abatement notice served on it last year.

The district council said it believed the non-compliance had led to severe fly infestations in April and May this year.

A letter from environmental health officer Grania Miller said she was putting together a file for the council's solicitors.

If they are satisfied the evidence is sufficient to support a prosecution the file will be passed to the magistrates court.

The letter, which was read out at a meeting of the parish council last night, said: "I can advise you that it is this council's intention to prosecute Lloyds (Animal) Feeds Ltd for failure to comply with the abatement notice that was served on them last year.

"We believe that this non-compliance led to the severe fly infestations that local residents were subjected to in April and May this year.

"In this regard, I am currently in the process of putting together a file for consideration by the council's solicitors.

"If they are satisfied that the evidence I have gathered is sufficient to support a prosecution, then they will put the case forward to the Magistrates Courts."

One resident at last night's meeting claimed the problems had been going on for 17 years.

Lloyds Animal Feeds today declined to comment.