Clash as Acton Pigot poultry sheds planning inquiry starts

A farming family and campaigners have clashed over plans to build four giant poultry sheds in the Shropshire countryside near Shrewsbury, capable of housing 176,000 chickens.

A public inquiry opened yesterday in Shrewsbury into whether Shropshire Councils decision last year to reject proposals by farmer John Owen should be overturned by the Government.

Mr Owen, of J G Owen and Co, wants to build four units, totalling 10,000 sq ft, on Flemmings Field in Acton Pigot.

The inquiry was told yesterday that the broiler units are needed to ensure the family can continue farming at the site as they have since the 1950s. But the family clashed with local campaigners over the potential impact of the development.

Mary King, senior conservation and design officer at Shropshire Council, told the inquiry that she believed the siting of the poultry sheds, which would stretch across an area larger than five football pitches, would cause substantial harm to the hamlet of Golding, which looks down on the proposed site.

She said planned road alterations and the potential for frequent lorry traffic would also have an impact on nearby villages including Acton Burnell and Pitchford. She said any public benefits that could arise from the scheme could be achieved by building the poultry sheds in a different location.

But earlier in the day, Deborah Sharples, representing Mr Owen, said the units were needed to ensure farming could continue at the site.

She said: The position has now been reached where, to allow the sons of the family, Tom, Chris and John, to continue the tradition of family farming at Acton Pigot, a new enterprise is needed.

This is needed to provide the necessary income and also to allow these young men to have their own areas of responsibility, she added.

This application is for an agricultural activity to take place in an agricultural location in support of an existing farm enterprise. It will make a valuable economic and social contribution locally, as well as to the national rural economy and food supply. Its benefits clearly outweigh any adverse impact.

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Clash as Acton Pigot poultry sheds planning inquiry starts