Tasley action group takes chicken farm fight to court
Protestors were today approaching the Royal Courts of Justice in London in a bid to further their fight against plans for a chicken farm near Bridgnorth.
The Tasley Chicken Factory Farm Action Group raised several thousand pounds to kick-start proceedings for a judicial review and needs to raise a further £20,000 to present its case in court.
The group has raised a judicial review against Shropshire Council after planning approval was granted for a 210,000-bird unit in Tasley, near Bridgnorth.
Campaigners say the review cites “inadequacies” in the manure management report and the council’s “failure to take account of the impact of spreading manure from the chicken farm on the residents of Bridgnorth”.
The action group was today approaching the Royal Courts of Justice for a judge to decide whether the case can go forward to a full hearing.
If campaigners are successful, they will have a week to apply for a full hearing.
The group launched an online appeal to help fund the process and has so far raised more than £3,500.
A new message posted on the group's online crowdfunding page says: "We are at this stage because a deputy judge refused permission for a full hearing, no reason was given.
"As a result of this, we’ve had to pay even more to get their decision properly reviewed in court.
"The legal process has been an uphill struggle, making it very difficult and costly for ordinary people like us, to challenge poor and biased planning decisions made by big unitary councils, like Shropshire.
"Shropshire now has the second highest number of poultry factory farms in the country, nearly 70, all of which are proving to be a widespread health hazard, and it begs the question as to whether this would still be the case if planning decisions were taken locally.
"Without further donations our fight will probably have to stop regardless of whether the judge grants permission for the case to proceed or not."
The planning application initially received more than 300 objections in total before it was approved by Shropshire Council’s planning committee in August.
The plans for Footbridge Farm involve four poultry buildings, gatehouse and water tank.
Protesters have expressed concerns over smell, dust and potential health implications it could cause.
Previously, applicants’ agent Ian Pick said that the plans met relevant criteria.
To support the campaign group’s appeal go to www.crowdjustice.com/case/stoptasleychickenfactoryfarm/
