Pig sheds 'unlikely to have adverse effect on community'

PLANS to build two finishing sheds that could house almost 2,000 pigs has people in a nearby village up in arms but environmental experts say smells won’t be a problem.

People in Gayles fear that noise, odours and traffic problems will occur if James Milbank, of J Milbank and Son Farms, is given permission to build the sheds on Gayles Fields Farm.

This is in spite of an environmental health officer saying the pig finishing sheds are unlikely to have an adverse impact on the community.

Some 30 objections to the development have been submitted to Richmondshire District Council. Dalton Parish Meeting lodged an objection after holding two meetings with residents and Mr Milbank. Dalton is about 360 metres away from the proposed site of the sheds.

Parish chairman Richard Farr said the objection was based on the scale of the development, its potential to harm tourism, traffic problems created by HGVs moving down single track lanes, odours emanating from the buildings as well as from slurry spreading, and possible noise.

He said: “The parish believes that the development contravenes both national planning policy framework and the Richmondshire core strategy policies... and that permission should be refused.” The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust opposed the planning application because ammonia coming from the site could impact on a nearby ancient woodland.

Gayles residents Margaret and David Taylor objected, saying: “The effluent will be spread on fields around Dalton and Gayles only a few feet from houses, causing more smell problems. At present the spreading of fertilizers is practically odourless. We understand the muck will be dripped onto the nearby fields rather than injected – this will mean the smell will linger longer and be worse.”

However, Mr Milbank says fans installed in tall uncapped chimneys would shoot emissions into the air where they would disperse. A report prepared for Mr Milbank using computer models predicted that ammonia levels would be below the maximum allowed by the Environment Agency’s lower threshold.

Environmental health officer Janice Johnston said: “I am satisfied that the applicant has now provided enough information about the impact from odour to indicate that, with the use of best available technologies, the proposed development is unlikely to have a significant adverse impact and I therefore have no objection to the application.”

Concerns about traffic problems were rejected by Mr Milbank who said the number of vehicle movements would actually decrease if the sheds were built.

Mr Milbank said: “My farm is open to anyone who may wish to come and have a walk round it with me to see what I do. I strongly believe it is one of the tidiest farms in Richmondshire and I take a huge amount of pride in what I do and how crops, livestock and property look.

“I have passed every farm assurance inspection with flying colours ever since the scheme was introduced in the mid-90s.”

The planning application is currently on hold until more consultation is carried out.

Planning officer Beverley Booth said: “We are still waiting for feedback from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Environment Agency about the (ammonia) report.”