Pig farm plans still cause a stink with objectors
DERBYSHIRE County Council has so far registered more than 60 objections against a controversial pig farm proposed for Foston.
Midland Pig Producers plans to use slurry from the farm, which could house up to 25,000 animals, to generate electricity for the National Grid.
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The site of proposed farm in Foston, which could house 25,000 pigs.
The firm previously applied for planning permission to the district council and a public consultation drew more than 2,800 objections.
But Derbyshire County Council took over the case when it became clear the plans involved "substantial waste management" – part of the authority's remit.
It began a second public consultation on the plans.
The authority has registered 64 objections to the application on its website.
They come from across the country including one from Donna Adams, of Ipswich.
She said: "I realise that animal welfare is not a planning consideration but I believe it should be considered in this instance as your decision could set a worrying precedent for the further intensification of the UK animal farming industry."
Gill Webb, of Bournemouth, wrote that pigs are highly intelligent, sociable animals.
His letter says: "The stress from living in crowded conditions makes these animals more vulnerable to infection."
A spokeswoman for Midland Pig Producers previously said animal welfare was its top priority.
She said: "These plans have been inspected by some of the most highly respected animal welfare groups who have not raised any objections to the application."
The firm says that, if permission was granted, construction would begin in 2012 and take about a year.
A county council spokeswoman said comments made during the previous consultation would be summarised for its planning committee.
Comments
by colinbel, Belper
Monday, May 16 2011, 5:44PM
“The proposal of housing pigs and more recently cows in large units is symptomatic of how farmers have lost their way in order to make more and more money or to survive pressured by the supermarkets for cheaper food without proper thought to the psychology and environment of the animals. The idea of using the generating of electricity from it is repugnant. Pigs and cows are made for being outside and it is cruel to keep them continually indoors. Anybody who had watched the programme called "Jimmy's Farm" would have seen how much happier pigs are outdoors. We need to get away from intensification and show the world that as a country we will only accept free range production including chickens and to hell with the rest of them. Now that would be cause for celebration.”