A CHICKEN shed capable of holding up to 16,000 free range birds could be built in a village near Ashbourne, prompting disappointment from sceptics who claim the developments “do nothing for the rural economy”.
The outline plans submitted to Amber Valley Borough Council could allow Simon and Juliette Blake to build a 16,000 bird free range egg production unit on land at Hillside Farm in Windy Arbour.
The application follows a string of similar proposals made in the Ashbourne area over the last few years, in which egg producers sought to build facilities to rear thousands of hens.
Families living near to each application site reacted strongly to the proposal, even turning up outside the planning authority’s meeting room at Ashbourne Leisure Centre holding placards.
Farmer Richard Spencer, from Alkmonton, has fought several of the applications and is still battling over an application for a 9,000 bird organic unit near to his home in Alkmonton.
On hearing of the proposed development in Kirk Langley, he said: “It does surprise me to hear of another big farm nearby because it’s got to be getting to the stage where you wonder how many more can you take? “Yes, we need to produce more food, I would never ever deny that but it seems to be that these units are put up to fly in the face of planning legislation and with no compassion towards housing and land nearby.
“In my opinion it does nothing for the rural economy in terms of jobs and people’s quality of life, and genuine country people like me really feel for the land around them and don’t want to see it ruined.” Mrs Blake from Heage near Belper, an Amber Valley Borough Council ward member for Heage and Ambergate, would be supplying eggs to Hilton-based free range egg giant John Bowler’s Eggs.
The firm has put together a detailed report to put before planners, which is viewable on the Amber Valley Borough Council website and Mrs Blake promises villagers will be involved in the planning consultations from an early stage.
