Meeting called over poultry farm plans for Bridgnorth

The plans, involving four poultry buildings, a gatehouse and a water tank, are for Footbridge Farm in Tasley.

There have been 235 objections from members of the public, with concerns raised over noise, dust and smells, while 38 representations in support of the plans have also been received.

Shropshire Council's south planning committee is expected to make a decision on the proposals at a meeting on Tuesday.

Officers have recommended delegating authority to the planning services manager to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

Following widespread concern, an extraordinary meeting of Bridgnorth Town Council has been called tonight to discuss the proposals.

It will be held in the Mayor’s Parlour, College House, St Leonard’s Close, Bridgnorth, at 7.15pm.

Tasley Chicken Factory Farm Action Group, which is protesting against the planning application, is calling for as many people as possible to attend.

A message posted on the group's Facebook page says: "We need as many people as possible to attend this meeting to show the level of feeling against it being approved.

"In a couple of weeks it will be too late to stop this. We need your help if we are going to stop it.

"If this proposal does go ahead then it will be devastating for Bridgnorth and our families will be stuck with the impact of this site for generations to come."

Allison Bill, from the group, said: "There are several poultry units like this in Shropshire already, but they’re usually sited away from towns.

"This one would be 600 yards upwind from homes on the Wenlock Rise estate and 1.5 miles from the centre of Bridgnorth. We’re worried about the toxic dust, the smell and the noise it would generate and the impact on residents and visitors."

But in a report to the planning committee, case officer Kelvin Hall wrote: "The proposal for a poultry rearing development at Footbridge Farm would be satisfactorily sited and designed, with an appropriate level of landscape mitigation, such that impacts on the landscape would not be unacceptable."