Willoughbridge Lodge Farm

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• To: planningapplications@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk

• Subject: Objection 25/00318/FUL

  To the Newcastle under Lyme Planning Committee:
  

  I object to application: 25/00318/FUL, Willoughbridge Lodge Farm Willoughbridge Lane Willoughbridge Market Drayton Shropshire TF9 4JL to house up to 70,000 broiler chickens per flock cycle. The application does not meet the environmental, social, and economic objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). I urge the council to commission an independent review of the environmental statement and air quality and odour assessments. 

  I am concerned about the following issues: 
  

  • The awful odours, ammonia and dust pollution which lead to illness for residents. 

  • ​​The decision to omit public consultation contradicts the Aarhus Convention, which emphasises the public’s right to participate early and effectively in environmental decision-making.

  • The many nearby protected habitat sites (SSSI / SACs) must be protected from over abstraction of water (Harris v EA), as well as air pollution. 

  • No assessment of upstream and downstream greenhouse gases & contribution to climate change (required following the supreme court's ruling in Finch v Surrey County Council [2024] UKSC 20.) Greenhouse gases from the production of animal feed (upstream) must also be included in these calculations, as well as  meat processing plants, transport to grocery stores, and contribution to food waste (downstream). The UK has committed to Net Zero, and only a plant based food system can lead us toward net zero, an industrial chicken farm will cause far too many greenhouse gases. The applicant needs to explain exactly how many GHG it will be creating. 

  • No proper assessment of pollution from chicken waste (nitrates, ammonia, phosphorus) when spread on third party land. IPUs are one of the major causes of the death of the UK’s rivers because there is simply way too much manure being created. The manure created on this farm could also negatively impact protected habitats sites such as those SSSIs nearby, some of which are already declining. 

  • The water pollution from excess fertiliser from factory farms is holding up housebuilding just as much if not more than the sewage crisis: this is bad for the economy. 

  • No evaluation of deforestation linked to chicken feed production.

  • Wasting fertile farmland for factory farming harms long-term food security. 

  • Chicken feed uses 45% of UK cereals, factory farming is inefficient and unsustainable.

  • No assessment of how much water will be used. The country is already facing drought and water availability crisis, and factory farms use too much water. 

  • Increased HGV traffic is bad for roads and safety, and could lead to more costs on taxpayer to fix roads. It also worsens air quality which is a major public health risk. 

  • The IPU will negatively impact the nearby Dorothy Clive Garden, which is a crucial cultural and environmental asset to our community. 

  • Bird flu risk is high. Millions of birds culled this year already due to bird flu. Scientists say the risk of the next pandemic from bird flu is rising.

  • Antibiotic overuse fuels antibiotic resistance, a growing public health crisis causing over 2000 deaths a year in the UK (UK Health Security Agency)

  • Chickens will suffer overcrowding, stress, and disease; factory farms cannot meet animal welfare needs. Investigations show animal abuse and sickness is common in factory farms, even those that claim to be high welfare and are RSPCA assured. Fast growing breeds of chickens such as those that will be bred here suffer from severe pain and health issues throughout their lives, such as chronic leg disorders and heart and circulatory problems.

  • Council should encourage plant-based diets for the climate and biodiversity crisis, in line with the Planetary Health (Eat Lancet) diet. 

  • Consumption of chicken above 300g/week is also associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality from gastrointestinal cancers; it’s contrary to the public interest to produce more meat. 

  
  
  

  Kind regards,