Chicken farm 'poses danger to drivers’
Controversial plans for to build a chicken farm near Newtown have been recommended for refusal.
An application for a free-range poultry unit at Upper Gwestydd in Cefn Mawr was rejected by the Powys County Council planning committee on ecological and highways grounds.
Farmer Gareth Woosnam has since resubmitted and will be in front of Powys County Council’s planning committee tomorrow.
The application has attracted 97 comments – 68 objections and 29 in support.
Objections have been on a number of issues including impact to water sources, highway safety and impact on neighbours’ properties.
Those in favour of the application say they are supporting a local farming family and farm diversification.
In the planning report, highways officers believe the danger to drivers is “too high” to allow the development to go ahead. They said: “The junction of the C2011/U2620 is severely substandard in terms of visibility in both directions and the applicant does not control any frontage that would allow for improvement. Perceived speeds in this area are in excess of 45mph.
“The highway authority has considered the relevant guidance and policies in relation to this application.
Risk
“Whilst the movements associated with the proposed development are relatively low, the risk of injury to road users at the three junctions is considered to be high as is the severity of any such injury.
“This is due to actual and perceived road speeds being relatively high for the rural location, and that any Heavy Goods Vehicles leaving the site will cross the centreline of the C2011 - at one or both junctions - with severely substandard visibility in both directions.”
Consultees Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council decided to support the application – which they did not do for a previous application in 2017.
Planning case officer, Gemma Bufton, added: “It is considered that the proposed development and anticipated increase in traffic cannot be reasonably accommodated. And would therefore be to the detriment of highway safety. Furthermore insufficient information has been provided for foul drainage.
“Therefore the recommendation is one of refusal.”
