I am starting this petition both on human and animal welfare concerns as well as the negative impact on the environment with the following in mind;

1.   impact on the neighbourhood (health);

2.   access and highways safety;

3.   Smell, waste and environmental impact ;

4.   Noise Pollution;

5.   Local council financial constraints;

The high turnover of traffic will significantly increase fumes/pollution from the heavy haulage. There is mounting evidence of the health dangers of pollution, which is already known to play a part in asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes. Microscopic particles largely generated by diesel exhausts have been shown to cause lung damage and harmful changes in blood vessels and clotting. 

Increased haulage/traffic causes considerable damage to the roads, grass verges, wildlife with the possibility of additional congestion. The additional haulage will also impact on the villages themselves with road stability and road safety to all inhabitants; in particular elderly residents, those with disabilities and children.

There are concerns around the impact this building will have on the already stretched infrastructure relating to a rural location; the additional need and use of buildings, roads, power supplies and sewerage/drainage system. 

There will also be an impact on privacy issues and the tranquillity of the countryside environment, as well as a negative impact on local house prices.

Concerns regarding the increase in waste products and potentially hazardous materials which will impact severely on local drainage (other areas where there are intensive pig units reported strong smelling liquid and stenches from their drains). There is also the increased risk of drain blockages which in turn could increase flooding to the area; if natural rain fall has nowhere to drain normally. Again, this will impact on Council financial resources with increased cleaning/clearing of the drainage system.

The environmental impacts of intensive farming are well known and documented. Waste from these types of farms has the potential to carry pathogens and bacteria, as well as heavy metals which are toxic when induced.

Pig waste - much like human waste - contains high levels of bacteria and ammonia. According to the Code of Good Agricultural Practice (COGAP), around 88% of the UK’s ammonia emissions come from animal agriculture. Much of this ammonia – which is actually good for the soil – can be lost from organic manures such as slurry, making it a less effective fertiliser

Residents in other areas with similar schemes report hearing screaming squealing pigs, as well as machinery, and noise  increase of haulage to/from the facility.  The constant noise has proved detrimental to people’s physical and emotional welfare. None of the application’s supporting documents have taken into account any regulation of noise coming from the intensive unit. 

It would be unfair to speculate as to why no effort has seemingly been made to regulate the noise coming from the unit – which is to accommodate up to 1,984 pigs – but the very fact that there is no evidence of any effort at all is concerning in itself.

We respectively ask that this current planning application is refused on the above grounds.