FOLLOWING a site visit today (May 31) Carmarthenshire County Council’s Planning Committee voted 18-2 to grant permission for a 32,000 hen free-range chicken barn near Llangadog.
An earlier application at Godre Garreg farm was refused over concerns about the barn’s location, and a revised plan put before the committee a fortnight ago. Following a site visit, councillors discussed the plans, which Planning Officer Graham Noakes noted had received a total of 88 letters of objection, and 34 of support, along with a 1,300 signature petition opposing the development.
Mr Noakes told the committee that following a thorough consultation and publicity process, none of the statutory consultees objected to the development, subject to a total of 33 conditions, and recommended the revised plans for approval.
However, local objectors Martin Banner and Dai Dyer addressed the committee, citing concerns about highway safety, increased traffic and the impact on Llangadog’s heritage. Other points of objection included the ‘inappropriate’ scale of the building and potential impacts on the health and amenity of local residents and the Afon Twyi SAC.
However, speaking on behalf of the applicants, Gail Lewis noted that the nearest properties were either owned by the applicant or people who supported the application. She added that the applicants would be expected to follow a ‘number of lengthy and detailed conditions’ should permission be granted.
Cllr Ken Lloyd raised concerns about the impact of ammonia, referring to a recent speech made by UK Agriculture Minister Michael Gove who said that farms should be seeking to reduce ammonia production.
However, many of the committee saw the project as an example of diversification in an attempt to make the farm sustainable for the future. Cllr Eirwyn Williams noted that the major industry in this part of the Tywi Valley was agriculture, and Cllr Joseph Davies remarked that the extra (52) vehicles visiting the site each year would be fewer than were on the roads when there were ‘twice as many dairy farms’.
Other committee members, including Cllrs Kevin Madge and Gareth Thomas, explained that they objected to the original site but felt that the applicant had complied with the committee’s views following the October meeting.
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