Fir Tree Farm

I urge the EA not to grant a permit.

1. I object to application EPR/KP3426SG/A001 for an environmental permit for a pig farm rearing 2,600 pigs in two sheds at Fir Tree Farm, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, TS9 5LD.

2. This application is for the scale of pig farm that produces a huge amount of waste, pollution and nuisances (including odours, air pollution and water pollution) and therefore requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment under Schedule 3 of the EIA Regulations 2017. It is not clear whether planning permission was granted for this farm, and therefore whether the full environmental impact of this installation including both the southern and northern units has ever been comprehensively assessed.

3. This application represents an appropriate opportunity for the environmental impacts of this farm to be fully assessed and I urge the EA not to grant a permit before a full environmental assessment has been completed for this.

4. It appears that the farm currently has 2,600 pigs, across two sheds. The applicant has now been advised during a Red Tractor inspection that the two buildings, previously considered separate units, must be aggregated as a single installation. This constitutes a significant intensification which is a material change of use under section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

5. The application lacks a comprehensive plan for the management of the manure. Some will be stored on site prior to spreading on the applicant’s land and some will be removed by a third party. The full environmental implications on land, water and public amenity of manure storage, transportation and disposal should be fully assessed.

6. Intensive rearing of animals for meat is an inherently wasteful and inefficient use of valuable resources. Food which could be fed directly to humans is poorly converted; for every 100 grams of grain protein fed to pigs, only 15 grams of new protein is created. This does not support national or local sustainability goals.

7. Imported soy for animal feed is closely related to deforestation of the Amazon and forests around the world, as forests are cut down to grow soy for factory farms. Deforestation directly contributes to the climate and ecological crises. Given that the first catastrophic climate tipping point has already been reached, the applicant must provide an environmental impact assessment identifying where the animal feed is coming from, what deforestation impacts it is having, and the environmental effects of the pesticides and fertilisers used to produce the crops. 

8. The application lacks sufficient information regarding the amount of water used, in order to determine whether an abstraction licence is required for the borehole. It seems likely that an intensive unit for 2,600 pigs using mixed nipple and river drinkers exceeds the limits for abstraction without a licence. Given recent drought conditions this is a serious matter.

9. The application does not assess the full effects of waste water drainage into nearby water courses, nor adequately address the effects of water contamination in the event of flooding. Since the site borders on Flood Zones 2 and 3, and is very close to West Beck, these are serious issues which should be properly assessed.

10.The Environment Agency should consider the implications for public health. Swine flu is widespread in pig farming, affecting an estimated 50% of UK production pigs; a study by The Royal Veterinary College emphasises the urgent need for robust pandemic preparedness. 

11. The World Health Organisation says that pig meat (red meat) probably causes cancer and processed meat (bacon) definitely causes cancer. Encouraging the large scale production of pigs is therefore contributing to the cancer epidemic and contrary to national and local goals of supporting healthy communities.

12.This application for an intensive pig unit has serious consequences to the amenity of local people, public health, the environment, and the animals. Odours, dust, ammonia, pollution, traffic, manure, waste, dirty water, greenhouse gas emissions, and the downstream direct and indirect impacts on people, ancient woodlands, SAC/SSSIs protected sites, the climate, and rivers must all be fully assessed.

The applicant should be required to apply for retrospective planning permission so that a full Environmental Impact Assessment can be undertaken and the full environmental cost of this development clearly understood by the local planning authority.

The Environment Agency should refuse this application.