Chicken sheds in Shropshire countryside are given full backing

The chicken sheds and feed bins in Westbury were recommended for approval by planning officers at yesterday's meeting of Shropshire Council's south planning committee.

But when the application was discussed councillors were told the development, south-east of Aston Rogers, would lead to more HGVs on the B4368, which was described as a dangerous road.

Heather Kidd, Shropshire councillor for Chirbury told the meeting in Shirehall that further safety measures were needed.

"Some people who use that road travel at huge speeds," she said. "I've heard of several near misses from people using this road regularly. We have been lucky so far but we need double white lines to put a stop to all the overtaking.

"They sometimes come off the road when they are hitting the bottom and I have had so many e-mails for people who worried about what could happen.

"The flow of vehicles coming out of this site could cause a really nasty accident."

The meeting heard Worthen with Shelve Parish Council, which supported the plans, had asked for some form of speed restriction for more than five years.

Councillors considered deferring the application.

But Sean Jones, of applicants JS Jones and Sons, told councillors the firm would pay £2,000 to have 100metres of double white lines painted along the road .

The offer was accepted by councillors.

But Councillor Madge Shineton, of Cleobury Mortimer, said: "It's a sad day for the council when we have to go to a company to get white lines."

The plans, which will also include solar panels and landscaping, had received 24 letters of objection but only six came from residents living in Aston Rogers.

The others were from householders in Shrewsbury, Ellesmere, Oswestry, Wellington, Craven Arms, Ludlow and as far away as Herefordshire, Powys and Cheshire.

Two residents of nearby Aston Pigott had sent in letters of support for the poultry sheds saying the applicants were helping to maintain the countryside.