Permanent tunnels allowed for free-range chickens - despite rats and flies complaints

The polytunnels at a farm in Sandford were approved at a meeting of Shropshire Council's north planning committee, following objections from neighbours who claim rats and flies are plaguing the area.

Applicant, Mr R Haynes, was given permission to be built on the site back in 2013, but only for a term of three years so Shropshire Council could assess their impact and traffic generation.

The buildings were allowed to be made permanent at the meeting, with a number of conditions imposed to restrict waste and site management.

Speaking at the meeting, neighbour Ann Ellis said she feared rat infestations and fly problems would continue.

She said: "My back garden looks right on to the polytunnels.

"We have got rats, we have got flies, a new neighbour has arrived and she has already had to have the environmental health team out because she was just overrun by rats.

"I've seen rats as big as cats, swarms of flies. We've informed Shropshire Council on numerous occasions, it is just awful."

Councillor Paul Wynn spoke on behalf of Prees Parish Council and said there were also concerns about the effect it may have on traffic being so close to the dangerous Sandford Bend.

He said: "It is the worst bit of road in north Shropshire. Highways says it's OK and we can't come back to that, but it really is not good at all.

"Speaking to residents, they have told me about the smells, the flies, the rats. I do have real concerns about this."

Members debated the issues and heard from the council's public protection officer, who said no pest control prevention was currently in place.

Councillors heard a number of conditions had been added, including a condition requiring the developer to produce a waste management plan for how the chicken manure is disposed of.

A further condition was agreed to produce a site management plan, which would see two sheds currently on the site cleared and removed so birds cannot be kept in the buildings.

Applicant Mr Haynes also spoke at the meeting.

He said he had involved a number of organisations including DEFRA to ensure he was following the right protocol, and added that it was a family business that he did not expect to grow any further.

However, Councillor Peggy Mullock, representing Whitchurch North, added: "Surely the residents have got a right to quality of life?

"I wouldn't want those swarms of flies where I live. What I saw on site did not fill me with confidence that they will be taken care of properly.

"They have put up with this for long enough."

The committee voted to delegate Shropshire Council's head of service the powers to approve plans once conditions had been added. Six members voted for, and two against.