Downton Abbey star condemns Mid Wales poultry unit bid

An application has been made by Mr and Mrs Woosnam of Upper Gwestydd, Cefn Mawr, to build the large unit a mile outside Newtown.

A consultation period ended last week and a local group opposing the application have started a petition to stop what they have described as “an horrific project in a totally unsuitable location”.

The petition has gathered 2,955 signatures and has now been backed by Downton Abbey actor Peter Egan.

Mr Egan, who plays Hugh 'Shrimpie' MacClare, Marquess of Flintshire, in the ITV drama is also an animal welfare advocate.

He took the social media to condemn the application, and said: “They are appalling factories and anyone supporting this application should be ashamed of themselves.”

A number of applications have been submitted in Mid Wales recently as farmers look to diversify as Brexit approaches.

Currently five planning applications have been submitted to build chicken rearing units across Powys.

Farms in Llanfyllin, Llanymynech, Newtown, Llanidloes and Rhayader are all applying for permission for Powys County Council, which if granted, would see 150,000 chickens bred.

Mark and Helen Williams, who run a farm in Forden, recently opened up a unit that houses 16,000 chickens.

The couple said they made the move to diversify due to uncertainty in prices of lamb and beef.

However the campaigners feel the negatives outweigh the positives and are appealing to more people to object to the application.

A statement on the online petition said: “An undecided planning application has been hanging over our much-loved haven of peace for nearly a year, due to strong objections from the Newtown Town Council, the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales and Natural Resources Wales.“Your signature on this petition will help prevent this horrific project being sited in such a totally unsuitable location.”

“The public footpaths, designated walking routes and the narrow winding lanes of Cefn Mawr are used for leisure activities by many horse riders and walkers, regarded as ‘sensitive receptors’ in our planning law and requiring protection from the impact of such development.

“Diversification of enterprises is often necessary for farmers, but siting this project in a beauty spot, a short walk from Newtown, the largest population centre in Powys, is clearly unacceptable.”

Campaigners added the unit will cause noise and pollution problems.

The applicants Mr and Mrs Woosnam and agents, Roger Parry and Partners were contacted for comment.