Feathers fly over £1.5million Rutland chicken shed
Villagers are opposing a planned £1.5m rearing shed for free range hens in Market Overton.
Paul Hinch of Hinch Enterprises seeks to build the shed on arable land east of Cottesmore Road.
After an outcry from residents and Market Overton Parish Council, Mr Hinch has withdrawn an original application submitted earlier this year.
But he says will submit another application with more detailed information.
The original plan was for a building with a floor area of 3,528m2 that would house 80,000 birds.
It would represent an expansion of the Hinch Enterprises poultry farm business.
Instead of sourcing 16-week-old chicks from Yorkshire, it would raise them from one day old on the site.
The application said the scheme for rearing pullets includes a range of measures to mitigate “any significant adverse environmental effects.”
It added: “On this basis, the proposed development should be considered acceptable with regard to its impact upon: war quality; air quality; fly nuisance; traffic generation; noise emissions; and the character of the surrounding landscape.”
However, Market Overton residents and Market Overton Parish Council opposed the original scheme.
The parish council had concerns over smells from the scheme and had sought more detailed information on it.
Residents told Rutland County Council the scheme was too close to the village, raising fears over smells, flies and vermin.
However, Mr Hinch told the Mercury local residents ‘have nothing to worry about’ as en enclosed building would prevent smells, plus vermin and fly infestation.
A new planning application prepared by specialists was being submitted with much more information.
He added: “It will cost me £50,000 to go through the planning process, which is absolutely ridiculous, to be then told whether or not you can do it.”
