Go-ahead given for 'mega dairy'

Farmer Fraser Jones has been granted permission by Welsh Assembly planning minister Carl Sargeant to more than triple the size of his herd and build one of the first 'mega dairies' in Wales at his Lower Leighton Farm in Leighton, near Welshpool.

It follows an eight-day planning inquiry earlier this year where inspector Katie Peerless recommended the project should be refused.

Mr Sargeant, the Welsh Assembly's planning minister who has approved the plans, said the economic benefits for the development were "hard to ignore".

But the decision has left opponents of the scheme, who had claimed the project would blight the landscape, "devastated". They have described the outcome as a "dark day for Wales".

Mr Jones today said he was "delighted" at the outcome and said he had gone to great lengths to address the concerns of of residents.

The project which will include creating three large buildings, a fodder storage unit, two slurry stores and a water storage tower, was initially refused by Powys County Council. But the Welsh Assembly called in the application in January last year.

Giving his reason for approval, Mr Sargeant said: "The economic benefits of the proposed development outweigh the social and environmental objections."

Holly Dyer, a member of protest group Calfe (Campaign Against Leighton Farm Expansion) which fought the plans at the inquiry, said: "I am very disappointed by the decision, particularly because the inspector who sat through the inquiry came to the conclusion that it should be refused.

"For the planning minister to come in and overrule it is devastating. This will be the end of the road for the fight. We have run out of funds. It is a very sad day for us."

Simon Pope of the World Society for the Protection for Animals (WSPA) said: "This is a dark day for Wales."