Chicken Farm Dispute Heads to High Court in Seven-Year Battle
Campaigners are set to challenge Shropshire Council in the High Court over a long-running dispute involving a large-scale chicken farm. The council granted permission in May for LJ Cooke & Son to build four sheds at Felton Butler, near Shrewsbury, capable of housing up to 230,000 birds. Despite over 1,000 people signing a petition opposing the development, citing concerns about its environmental and infrastructural impact, the project moved forward.
Dr. Alison Caffyn, a Ludlow resident and member of the advisory board for River Action, has been granted permission for a judicial review to contest the council's decision. She argues that the council failed to fully assess the potential environmental harm, particularly the impact of spreading manure from the farm on the River Severn catchment.
"The chicken population in Shropshire has skyrocketed, with nearly 65 chickens per person," Dr. Caffyn said. "Despite this, the council continues to approve intensive poultry units, without adequately considering the consequences of increased manure and ammonia emissions on our rivers and special habitats."
Shropshire Council had previously deferred the application twice before granting permission in May, following adjustments aimed at addressing concerns about odour pollution and traffic from lorries. Peter Ellis, a local resident, expressed concern about the development's impact on the quality of life for people living near the site.
The judicial review will examine whether the council properly considered the risks of spreading manure, emissions from burning biomass, and groundwater pollution. The council has stated that no manure would be spread on land, with plans to transport it off-site to anaerobic digesters or other facilities for disposal or treatment.
However, a request to review the council's adherence to the Habitats Regulations for protected areas was denied, a decision Dr. Caffyn and River Action plan to appeal. Scientists believe that chicken manure has contributed to widespread pollution in rivers such as the Severn and Wye, with runoff from manure leading to harmful algae blooms. These blooms reduce oxygen levels in the water, threatening plant life, insects, and endangered species like the Atlantic salmon, otters, and kingfishers.
Earlier this year, River Action lost a legal challenge against the government over pollution in the River Wye, with the High Court ruling that the Environment Agency and the government were correctly enforcing anti-pollution laws. Despite this, the group remains determined to prevent similar damage to the River Severn.
Charles Watson from River Action voiced his concerns: "By allowing more giant intensive poultry units, Shropshire Council is effectively sentencing another iconic British river to ecological devastation."
The legal battle continues as campaigners seek to protect the region's rivers and ecosystems from further harm.