Maidenlands Farm,Tarn Flattmarton

Maidenlands Farm,Tarn FlattMarton

POLICY D1

The Borough’s countryside will be safeguarded for its own sake and non-renewable and natural resources afforded protection. Development will be permitted in the countryside only where there is a demonstrable need that cannot be met elsewhere. Where necessary development is permitted any adverse effect on the rural character of the surroundings should be minimised subject to the development’s operational requirements.

POLICY D55

The Council will not permit development that is likely to cause unacceptable harm to an interest of significant environmental importance by increasing levels of pollution through emissions into the air or adversely increasing odour levels.

POLICY D58

New development within the vicinity of residential areas, schools, hospitals and offices must not generate noise above the existing background levels, as measured in accordance with the positions, times and methods agreed beforehand with the Authority.

Following policies applied to previous proposal but not to current proposal.

POLICY D2

Development harmful to the distinctive character of designated CountyLandscapes, as indicated in the Proposals Maps, will not be permitted. Development justified on grounds of need that cannot be located elsewhere will be permitted provided that it is sited to minimise environmental impacts and meets high standards of design.

POLICY D12

Development or demolition that would significantly adversely affect animal or plant species protected by Schedules 1, 5 & 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) will not be permitted. If planning permission is granted which may have an adverse effect on protected species the local planning authority will, where appropriate, impose conditions and/or will use its powers to enter into Section 106 Obligations to;

i)Safeguard the survival of individual members of the species;

ii)Reduce habitat disturbance to a minimum; and/or

iii)Provide suitable alternative habitats.

Development advertised on site and in local press

Occupiers of 56, 57, 58, The Old Chapel, Tarn Flatt, 48, 49, Holly Cottage, Glebe Farm, Gate Farm, High Farm Cottage, Moor Road, Low Fold, 21, 23, 24, 33, 36, Fair View, Cartref, Green View, Swallows Rest, Cosy Cottage, Tarnside Cottage, The Homestead, 1, 2, 10, Tarn Flatt, Marton, Lindal Moor Abattoir, Henning Wood,11, Railway Terrace, Lindal. Primrose Farm, Holmes Green, Whitriggs, Tytup, Maidenlands Farm, Dalton. Roundhills Kennels & Cattery, Roundhills, 1, 3, Lane Ends, High Farm, 8, Silver Street, Marton. Old Vicarage, Fell Mount, Pennington. 5, Pryors Walk, Ireleth. 6, Yeld Close, Bakewell, Derbyshire. All informed.

The Occupiers, 3 Lane Ends, Marton.

“At the initial application some 2 months ago, I wrote expressing our opposition on various grounds i.e. the health of villagers, especially those with breathing problems, smell likely to emanate from such a large number of chickens, the fact that they will attract flies and, worse, rats to the village. In fact we don’t want this development at all.

Please – don’t allow it to be forced upon us. We deserve to live our twilight years (after living in the village for 70 and 50 years respectively) without this unacceptable development being a threat to our health and welfare.”

The Occupier, Low Fold, Fairview, Marton

“I have reviewed the planning application, and wish to register my objection to this proposal. I would ask the planning committee to consider the points below:

1.The proposed development is located approximately 300M from the domestic properties at the centre of the village; however, the range (an essential piece of the development), which is rarely referenced within the proposal, is within a few metres of the nearest residential property.

2.The odour from poultry faeces is extremely unpleasant and offensive. The odour would be permanently present in the village. There would be no reprieve from it.

3.Given the prevailing wind direction, which is over the proposed development and onto the village, the continual odour will significantly impact on normal life. Windows will need to be permanently kept shut; children will be unable to utilise the play area - the only communal facility remaining in the village; residents will be unable to enjoy their garden areas or utilise any other outside space.

4.The proposed range area extends right up to the nearest residential property. Given the destructive nature of chickens, this land will be scratched off, resulting in large dusty patches during dry periods. This dust, combined with chicken faeces will be blown or carried over the village. This has significant health implications for all, but in particular any residents with respiratory conditions. Additionally, poultry faeces is a known source of salmonella.

5.Land drains are present on the land suggested for the proposed range area. This presents an issue with potential water contamination. In addition, during periods of heavy rain, the water runs off the field and onto Tarn Flatt road and into neighbouring garden areas. This has significant health implications.

6.The development has potential to cause significant noise pollution, given the close proximity to the village.

7.The development will lead to a significant increase in flies. This has significant health implications, given the disease carried by such insects.

8.The development will significantly increase the risk of rat infestation in the village and surrounding countryside.

9.In periods of inclement weather, it may not be possible to transport poultry manure away from the site. This means that manure will have to be stored on site, which will significantly increase risk of foul odour.

10.It is not possible for manure to be spread onto and ploughed into surrounding fields at a frequency of twice per week. Ploughing is only possible at certain times of the year, so again, this means there must be manure storage somewhere.

11.The manure produced will be spread over a number of fields within surrounding villages. This will impact a far greater number of residents of local villages and towns with the offensive odour and fly problems associated with chicken manure. Given the far reaching implications of this, we feel that the surrounding villages and towns should be consulted on this development.

I would like the opportunity to address the planning committee meeting when this application is considered.”

The Occupier, Low Fold, Fairview, Marton

“I am 12 years old and I live in Marton. I am writing to you to object to the proposed chicken farm in Marton.

Firstly, I and my friends love to play outside on the park and around the village. We love to smell the fresh air of the country side. If the chicken farm was built then we would not be able to smell the sweet fresh air, all we would be able to smell would be the chickens and the chicken poo. This would not be very nice at all and this would maybe even stop me and my friends from playing outside in Marton. You would not want to stop young children of having the pleasure of playing outside would you?

Also, I used to live in Stoke-on-Trent before I moved to Marton. Where I used to live there was a chicken farm. This used to stink so much that no-body could go outside, put their washing out or even open their windows. All these simple tasks were undoable because of one chicken farm! If you did walk outside then the smell was so overwhelming that you threw up instantly! If any of my friends came over they were always ill (none of my friends liked coming over because of the smell!).

Secondly, the chicken farm would not be the most hygienic place. The chickens would make lots of poo which attracts rodents. I would hate this because rodents carry disease and it is just not nice to have them running around. You would not want rats running around where you live so why take the chance of letting us having rats running around where I live? Finally, I hope you have taken my thoughts into account.”

The Occupier, Low Fold, Fairview, Marton

“Further to my previous correspondence, I would like to make the following comments and observations in support of my objection to this planning application.

Stocking density

The application appears to ignore current legislation and industry best practice in relation to stocking density for birds.

Current industry regulations allow for a maximum stocking density of 11.7 birds per square metre. By 2012, this reduces to 9 birds per square metre for free range egg production. Taking both of these figures into account, the stocking density for the proposed building equates to 14 birds per square metre. This is above the maximum permitted under current legislation, indicating that the dimensions of the proposed building are incorrect it will not be fit for purpose.

Environmental Impact

I do not believe that the biodiversity report addresses the issue of effluent contamination of Poaka Beck.

Issue 2, in the applicants “Design & Access Statement”, states that the boundary of the range has been pulled back from Poaka beck by 10M, in line with recommendations by the biodiversity advisers. However, the biodiversity report states that the range boundary will be a minimum of 20M from Poaka beck. The biodiversity adviser appears to have been misinformed. Again, it appears that the environmental impacts have not been addressed, but rather glossed over.

Considering the contours of the land approaching Poaka Beck, during significant periods of heavy rain, the land will become saturated. This will still result in contamination of the beck from surface effluent.

Odour & Noise Impact

The data model does not reflect the true meteorological conditions at Marton.

The dispersion modelling has been based on meteorological data taken from the weather station at Shap. Given that Marton is situated in an elevated position, around 2km from the coast, then I have concerns about the validity of this assessment. Marton is more likely to experience conditions more akin to those recorded at WalneyIsland. I also believe that if the assessment were to be based on WalneyIslands meteorological data, then it would reveal dispersion modelling showing significant impact on the village, and would certainly account for true wind direction and speed. The impacts of noise or odour have not been addressed by this report.

The Range

The application is for a building for FreeRange egg production. How is the production of free range eggs possible without a free range area? The application surely needs to fully include the range.

Details of the range are both vague and sketchy, with the exception of the boundary. Further development of this area will be necessary shelters, water points, etc. Boundary fencing will be required to separate farm birds from wild birds ( a DEFRA requirement). Fencing will have a visual impact; it will impact wildlife movement.

I trust that you will give my comments full consideration.”

The Occupier, Low Fold, Fairview, Marton

“I am 9 years old and I am writing this letter to explain to you why I reject the chicken farm.

My first reason is that me and my friends love to play on the park next to my house but we wouldn’t be able to because of the smell. As well we may get ill.

My second reason is that you have to cut off their beak which is mean and their claws get all curled up.

I hope you have taken my reasons into account.”

The Occupier, 21 Fairview, Marton

I wish to object to the above planning application on the following points:-

1. I am very concerned how my wife’s health will be affected by the airborne dust mites and excrement from the chickens. She has severe respiratory problems which will be aggravated by these contaminants. I hope the necessary researches have been carried out into the human health problems caused by poultry as there is no denying that the prevailing wind over the village comes from the direction of the farm and the range which extends into the village.

1. Although the building and the range has been altered to be further away from Poaka Beck there is still the potential for it to be contaminated and as the beck contains and attracts a diverse variety of wildlife; trout, minnows, otters, kingfishers, dippers and yellow wagtails to name a few, these could all be potentially affected and the whole ecology of the beck along its course to the sea at Cavendish Dock.

1. I am also very concerned about the extra traffic (mostly heavy) on the lane to Melton. We often have to reverse into a gateway to allow heavy traffic to pass. Lorries, cranes, diggers, tractors and trailers, cattle trucks going to Hindles, Crowes and Duerden’s Abattoir all use this lane, we don’t need any more. Apart from the narrow width of this lane the road surface is in a bad state of repair now and can only get worse by more heavy traffic use.

I trust that you will take all my above concerns into account when making your decision about this application.”

The Occupier, 21 Fairview, Marton

I wish to object to the above planning application.

I suffer from chronic asthma and bronchialitis and both the conditions will be worsened by the air based contaminants from the chickens which are to be housed in the shed but will spend their daylight hours on the surrounding range. It is a proven fact that chickens can have a severe detrimental effect on people’s respiratory health even the fittest.

Although the position and size of the shed has been modified since the previous application it and the range are still in a position to pollute the village.

There appears to be a lot of hypotheses to prove the smell from the shed will only be an occasional nuisance but the larger problem is the dust mites and smells that will be carried by the prevailing wind from the chickens and their excrement on the range into our homes, gardens and over the children’s park.

Although the shed may be situated approx 370 yards from our home in the centre of the village the range extends to within approx 200 yards. The other health worry is the infestation of the village by rats, I quote “re-infestation of rats to be controlled so as not to access the shed” but they will be attracted to the surrounding area and then where to? I have read that for every 1 chicken, 5 rats could be attracted, I hope for our sakes this is not so.

To say I am concerned is an understatement, I am frightened at what effect this will have on my health and I am not alone as quite a number of villagers, including children, suffer from respiratory complaints.

I would be grateful if when making a decision on this application you would consider which is the most important, one man’s extra business venture or the health and welfare of the surrounding villagers.”

The Occupier, 24 Fairview, Marton

“I am writing to inform you that I wish to object to the above application because the chicken farm is positioned on a hill, which gravitates down to a stream therefore this, has the potential to pollute the water and fisheries and other live stock.

The amount of chickens indicated in the planning application will attract rodents, foxes, flies and this is concerning as it is within a very close proximity to the village of Marton. Chickens carry diseases which can affect other live stock within the vicinity.

This amount of chickens will produce a large quantity of excrement which will have a high ammonic substance within it and the chickens will dig and scratch up the dry earth which will then become air Bourne into the atmosphere and could have an effect on the health of the residents within the village as this may have a detrimental effect on residents who have a known chest complaint i.e. asthma etc. This ammonia will also create a pungent stench and smell and there is no guarantee that this waste will not be spread within the vicinity of the village or surrounding villages which will make it unbearable for villagers to spend time outside.

Please can you inform me when this application is going to be considered by your panel.”

The Occupier, 24 Fairview, Marton

“I am writing to object to the above application for a chicken farm . The reasons for my objections are that I do not see that this second applications has addressed the previous concern regarding the range where the 16.000 chickens will be roaming on during the day and the concern that they have not addressed is the health concerns with regard to the dust, air Bourne pollutants which will be carried onto the close proximity of the village as the range for the chickens continues to be within a village environment.