Proposed pig farm north of Lincoln leaves villagers disgruntled

Plans for an intensive pig rearing unit north of Lincoln have been met with a frosty reception from concerned villagers.

Farmer Tim Elwess has applied to build the two units, plus a farmhouse and straw storage building on disused farmland off Cow Lane in Upton.

Access to the site, previously home to war time accommodation, would be via an enlarged and reconstructed road from Cow Lane.

Photo: Google Maps

A traffic survey, as well as flood risk, ecology and protected species reports have also been completed by the applicant.

The applicant added: “The waste land is not fit for arable farming and is in an area that already has a sewage plant and an industrial site in the same location.”

Rachael Bowles, a resident of the village, said: “The installation will increase traffic, noise, odours from dead and living stock, fuel and dust pollution, vermin, potential run off to local watercourses and groundwater sources from slurry storage.

“High Street in Upton has already seen hit and run accidents recently due to parking issues. The police have failed to find the culprits and people speed through this village but Lincolnshire Police fail to provide any form of speed enforcement because we are low priority.”

Upton Parish Council said in a statement: “Keeping large numbers of animals near residential dwellings and the village itself is a potential disease risk to humans.

“In light of recent swine flu outbreaks and studies on the impact of human health we believe there are issues to be addressed.

“We are also concerned to note that planning the facility for 1,990 animals allows it to avoid hitting the threshold of being subjected to Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regulations that requires a permit if there are more than 2,000 finisher pigs.”

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service fire safety inspector Ysanne Spafford added: “The fire authority objects to the application on the grounds of inadequate water supply for firefighting purposes.”

The application will be decided on by West Lindsey District Council at a later date.