UPDATE: A fierce local campaign is erupting in Colwell, Northumberland, against plans for a massive chicken farming operation that could house 220,000 broiler chickens per cycle, amounting to nearly 1.7 million chickens annually. Well House Farm has applied for planning permission to build four intensive poultry sheds, sparking over 100 objections from concerned residents.
The proposed development has raised alarming concerns about animal welfare, pollution, and the risk of bird flu outbreaks. Local resident Rachel Mellor, 57, voiced the community’s fears, stating, “If this proposed factory farm is allowed to go ahead, it will cause irreparable and severe harm to the lives and the health of the men, women and children who call Colwell and the surrounding areas home.”
Residents are particularly worried about the environmental impact on nearby sites, including the Hallington Reservoirs Wildlife Site. They believe the factory’s ammonia emissions and potential for water pollution pose a direct threat to their health and local wildlife.
In a letter to the Northumberland County Council, Joe Morris, Labour MP for Hexham, emphasized, “The industrial scale of this proposal gives rise to a range of material planning considerations that have concerned residents living within the vicinity.” He warned that the development could lead to significant ammonia emissions, odour issues, and a serious risk of water contamination affecting local drinking water supplies.
Residents have been actively campaigning against the proposal, distributing leaflets door-to-door and outside local supermarkets. They are joined by Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF), whose Volunteer Coordinator Jo Lazarus stated, “Locals are rightly horrified at the thought of thousands of birds suffering in terrible conditions just down the road from them.”
The environmental implications extend beyond local wildlife; concerns over the increased risk of avian influenza outbreaks have also been voiced. Morris noted that the concentration of thousands of birds in close confinement could elevate the risk of disease transmission to wild bird populations.
In a strong show of solidarity, campaign groups Compassion in World Farming and Sustain have also submitted objections to the scheme, highlighting the broader implications of intensive farming on community health and environmental sustainability.
A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council stated, “We are unable to comment on live planning applications. As with any live planning application, residents can make comments and raise concerns in relation to the application via the Council’s planning portal.”
As the community voices their opposition, the future of Well House Farm’s chicken sheds hangs in the balance. Residents are urged to participate in the ongoing discourse about this critical local issue that could set a precedent for agricultural practices in the region.
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