Chicken farm consultation for Welshpool ends soon

Residents who fear the impact of an intensive chicken farm which could be build a mile from Welshpool town centre have until Friday to react to a pre-planning consultation document.

County Councillor Graham Breeze says objectors to proposals for a 150,000-capacity chicken farm at Frochas Farm been contacting him with their worries.

“The proposed development is just over a mile from Welshpool town centre and residents at neighbouring properties feel it may have a direct impact on homes and businesses in terms of ammonia emissions, pollution, manure odour, waste, house and land value, noise pollution and an increase in heavy vehicle traffic,” he said.

Roger Parry & Partners, representing the developers J.T. Owen & Co, have informed residents they have until January 11 to make their opinions known to a published consultation document.

It says the facility would provide an economic boost for the area with more than one million chickens produced every year.

“Although the farm business is successfully run, the business is always looking at diversification, especially given the beef and sheep sectors being hit financially in recent years,” the applications states.

“The proposal is a farm diversification scheme for JT Owen & Co and is a sustainable economic development as supported by national, regional and local planning policy.”

Councillor Breeze said: “While this proposal is not yet at planning application stage the pre-planning consultation document gives everyone the chance to study the scheme and voice their opinions at an early stage, so I would urge everyone interested to do exactly that before Friday’s deadline.

“I would also urge people to attend a meeting of Welshpool Town Council’s planning committee on the evening ofJanuary 16 when the consultation document will be discussed.

“Anyone wishing to oppose or indeed support the proposed development will have the opportunity if a full planning application is made to Powys County Council.”