Super-dairy near Welshpool under review

Controversial plans for a 1,000-cow 'super dairy' on the outskirts of Welshpool will be decided by the Welsh government.

Permission was granted for farmer Fraser Jones to build the dairy at Lower Leighton Farm, Leighton, last November, despite recommendations to refuse it.

If built it would become one of the first parlour-style facilities of its kind in Wales, but the Welsh Assembly has called it in over fears about the risk of pollution. The scheme has attracted hundreds of objections.

Residents are concerned over potential smell and noise from the site and its closeness to a primary school and homes in Leighton.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals and Compassion in World Farming have written to the Assembly asking for the application to be reconsidered.

Mr Jones today said he was disappointed the plans had been called in, adding if the scheme did not go ahead it could put him out of business.

"Hopefully the Welsh government will realise that there are no pollution risks or other issues which should stop this going ahead, which is what the councillors felt after they came here on a site visit," he said.

But Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson said she was pleased the application had been called in. "A dairy this size in a village this small is unprecedented in Wales, probably the UK," she said. "It demands the closest scrutiny and the most careful consideration."

Environment Minister John Griffiths said he was concerned about the risk of pollution from slurry spreading, and the visual impact on nearby Powis Castle.

In a letter to Powys County Council's head of planning services, the Welsh Assembly said: "In the minister's view there is insufficient information in these respects to show that all the relevant policy considerations have been fully addressed by Powys County Council's planning committee in reaching its decision on the planning application."