Stink is kicked up over slurry smell in Shrposhire village

People in Whixhall, near Whitchurch, say they are concerned about strong smells coming from the pit at Moss Lane Farm.

The pit has divided residents, with some voicing their support for the scheme. They say neighbours should back farmer Tom Broadhead and his local business.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting of Whixall Parish Council on January 11.

Mr Broadhead has submitted a retrospective planning application to Shropshire Council for the construction of the slurry lagoon. The application states: "The lagoon was constructed to control and contain volumes of dirty water run off arising from hard-standings and manure storage at the site.

"In the autumn of 2014 the agreement to spread slurry and manure was reneged on by the third party, and, in the absence of other immediately available land, the applicant was forced to construct additional storage capacity: the slurry lagoon subject of this application.

"The Environment Agency was made aware of the works at an early stage and officers were consulted regularly during the construction period to ensure that risks associated with slurry management in proximity to a sensitive area are managed properly.

"There have been no recent complaints relating to odour from nearby dwellings, and the use of the lagoon has not resulted in a change in slurry and manure spreading practice.

"Slurry and manure spreading operations currently take place over a wide area and will continue to do so, and as such odour arising from these operations is unlikely to have an adverse impact on nearby dwellings."

The lagoon has been designed to contain 10 months' contaminated run-off arising from the unit.

But residents have complained of "an obnoxious stench" in the area.

One villager, who has distributed a letter to neighbours, says: "The stench came from intensive pig rearing at Moss Lane farm. The slurry lagoon has been sited on a level 3b flood plane, adjacent to the Bettisfield Moss – an area of special conservation. It is only 15 metres from the Shropshire Way footpath and Whixall Walk. It is less than 15 minutes from the Lords Hill Culvert which flows into the River Roden and on into the River Tern before joining the River Severn. Any overflow or breach in the wall of the slurry lagoon would have a disastrous effect on the local area and its wildlife."

But resident Ali Floyd says on a Facebook site: "A bit of good honest muck beats traffic pollution hands down. We only moved here in August to get away from city life. Love it here."

And Julie Ankers added: "Without farmers, we would have nothing."

Mr Broadhead was not available for comment.