Poultry sheds get go-ahead near Clun

The two large-scale sheds will be built at Hurst Barn, Clunton, near Clun.

Shropshire Council's south planning committee voted to approve the proposals during a meeting at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

The plans provoked a raft of objections from Clun Town Council, Clunbury Parish Council, Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership and Arvon, a charity that runs a creative writing centre at The Hurst nearby, with concerns about the look, smell, noise and traffic that might be generated.

There was more controversy that they would be near the River Clun, which is a protected habitat for the rare fresh water pearl mussel, and any pollution could result in severe damage to mussel populations.

But conditions have been put on the application to protect the Clun catchment special area of conservation.

Outlining the plans, Grahame French, principal planning officer at Shropshire Council, said the scheme would support the local agricultural economy and a strong national demand for poultry need.

He said: "The odour report concludes there shouldn't be a problem. "There's already a history of spreading manure on surrounding fields but that would be reduced."

He said officers had decided there were exceptional circumstances for it to be sited in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

But Councillor Nigel Hartin, speaking at the meeting, said he believed the gains to the local economy would be minimal and it could harm tourism.

Councillor Andy Boddington also raised objections.

He said: "It's a uniquely sensitive area. This concerns me. I think schemes like these are high risk.

"Yes, we have a need for chicken nationally but it doesn't need to be here. "I'm very concerned about its impact on the environment and the landscape."

But Shaun Jones, planning agent representing the applicant Richard Jones, said highways, noise and odour impact had been considered and the plans met the relevant requirements.

Councillor Madge Shineton said she recognised it was a beauty spot, but she said in order to maintain the beauty of the landscape it had to be managed and looked after.

She told the meeting: "We must allow these farms the ability to diverse and keep themselves going economically.

"There would be no need for any of those lorries to go through the village of Clun. For me, that was a big plus."

The application was passed by the committee, with five councillors voting in favour, one against and one abstaining.