July 18, 2019 12.49 pm This story is over 67 months old

“Learn the facts before opposing” say “chicken prison” developers

PETA have called the plans a “chicken prison”
The farm will supply a nearby chicken processing facility | Photo: PETA UK

The people behind a 270,000 bird poultry farm near Grantham have urged people to read the facts before making a decision after an animal rights group submitted a 25,000 signature petition opposing the plans.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) calls the plans for land at High Dike in Great Ponton a “chicken prison”.

Residents have also raised concerns about the effect and campaigners have been calling on South Kesteven District Council to reject the proposals which would see a six-shed farm built to contain the fowl.

PETA Director Elisa Allen said: “The last thing Lincolnshire needs is a new factory farm and the pollution, illness, and cruelty to animals that go along with it.

“The plan is to cram as many as 45,000 birds in at a time into each of six long buildings, denying them not only the chance to do anything that’s natural and important to them but also any life at all.

“The foul smell and increased traffic the facility would generate would make life miserable for local residents, too.”

However, Kenny Dhillon, the agent for applicant Steward Adams, has urged people to engage with the developers, read the submitted information and “learn all the facts”.

Site layout plans for the chicken farm.

He said the information submitted in the application was completely up-to-date.

“Everybody is entitled to their own opinion but that should be contained within the facts of the submission,” he said.

He said the applicants wanted to engage positively with the community.

“We had a public consultation event yesterday (Wednesday) on behalf of the applicant and we spoke to a great deal of the local community and dispelled many of the myths that have been caused by some misinformation,” said Mr Dhillon.

“We want to work proactively with the local community to help them better understand the actual proposal,” he added.

He reassured residents that the unit would adhere to the latest legislation adding: “The UK is the world leader in poultry welfare standards and those standards are more strict than elsewhere.”

Residents have raised concerns over a lack of publicity, smells and the effect on the environment and the nearby village.

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