Rushden industrial chicken factory racks up more than 3,262 objections as Cluck Off campaign continues

In July, Rushden-area residents revived the Cluck Off protest group – first formed eight years ago – to voice opposition to the application submitted to North Northants Council (NNC).

If granted permission, the huge broiler unit could raise 2,339,000 birds per year on the 55-acre site, the equivalent of more than 27 football pitches.

Cluck Off member Richard Scarfe has urged NNC to refuse the plans on grounds of environmental pollution, animal welfare issues and public health concerns, especially the superfine particulates from the factory being spread into the air as well as smells from the site.

He said: “We are still hopeful it will be refused, we are trying to feel positive. I never knew that chickens were kept in such bad conditions – until I started this campaign – they are dire.”

Current animal welfare legislation allows 22 birds per square metre, with the manure only cleared out after slaughter.

Chicks would be introduced to the poultry houses when one-day-old and would be reared for about 38 days under ‘controlled and monitored conditions’, with five members of staff at the site.

After 38 days the chickens would be manually caught and transported away from the site to be killed and processed.

Operating on an ‘all-in, all-out’ basis, the broiler unit would see all six poultry houses stocked and emptied at the same time.

Planning permission is being resought by Bedfordia Farms Ltd on arable land approximately 1.2km south-east of Avenue Road, Rushden, 1.1km north-east of Bedford Road, Rushden, 1.5km south of Newton Bromswold and 800m north-west of Knotting, across the county boundary in Bedfordshire.

Cluck Off members have met with two MPs whose constituencies fall within the area affected by the proposed chicken factory.

MP for Wellingborough and Rushden Gen Kitchen said: “Following meetings with both Bedfordia and the Cluck Off campaign, I have written to the Environment Agency to ensure there will be full independent environmental scrutiny and to the ICB (NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board) regarding the impact of possible pollution from the site on public health.

"I have also written to DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) around animal welfare and to North Northamptonshire Council regarding any section 106 agreements that may be considered.

“In addition I have spoken to neighbouring MP Richard Fuller about the issue. I will continue to liaise with both the campaign group and company to ensure concerns are heard and any necessary mitigations are made.”

After his meeting with Cluck Off, Richard Fuller MP said he would raise a series of concerns with NNC.

He said: “While I do not usually involve myself in planning matters, I agreed to take this meeting because the operational footprint of this proposed site would have a direct impact on many villages in the north of my constituency. There are concerns about HGV transit, odour, manure spreading and damaging chemical runoff into the River Great Ouse.”

Neighbouring authority Bedford Borough Council has not objected to the planning application, but Knotting & Souldrop Parish Council, Sharnbrook Parish Council, Higham Ferrers Town Council and Rushden Town Council have registered their objections.

Newton Bromswold resident Roger Barnes lives close to the proposed farm. As well as issues of animal welfare, he is very concerned by the potential air pollution, nitrates being washed into the rivers and the smell from chicken manure, and feels the area is being misused.

He said: “There’s nothing in favour of it. It’s crazy – there’s solar panels in green fields and chickens in factories.”

Concerns have been raised regarding fine dust called PM2.5 – particulate matter (PM) measuring less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter - that campaigners say will blow from the vents into the air and spread across the area.

Due to the small size of many of the particles that form PM, toxins could enter the bloodstream and be transported around the body, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs. Exposure to PM can result in serious impacts on health, especially in vulnerable groups of people such as the young, elderly and those with respiratory problems.

Mr Scarfe said: “The PM2.5 from the factory will be blown out of the vents, locally that will be a problem.”

He claims the level of ammonia is a risk to the workers, adding: “Natural England has set standards and the applicant (Bedfordia) is looking at previous levels, not the new standard. I’ve challenged NNC to apply the current regulation.

"During the previous campaign, around eight years ago, I made a Freedom of Information request to the Environment Agency asking which types of agricultural activity generated the most complaints.

“The information I received indicated that chicken farms of the type now being proposed were among the agricultural activities attracting significant complaints.

“There are also anecdotal concerns about the effect that the proposed poultry development could have on property values. I have heard, although I have not independently verified it, that someone selling a property in Avenue Road was advised to reduce their asking price after the poultry application became known.”

Mr Barnes added: “No sentient beings should be kept in this way. How can anyone promote or be proud of this barbaric animal treatment? It is disgusting.

“Chicken manure is the most toxic and dangerous waste. How can making life unpleasant for all the villages possibly be legal in the 21st Century?”

Bedfordia Farms Ltd estimates the broiler unit would cost £6.23m to build, with construction extending over five to six months and represent a ‘significant investment into the rural economy’.

But the application says five permanent full-time equivalent jobs would be created.

In its submission, Bedfordia states ‘animal welfare is closely regulated in law, and Bedfordia is committed to following Defra’s Code of practice for the welfare of meat chickens and meat breeding chickens (2018)’.

The application admits there could be potential ‘unpleasant odours’, ‘dust and ammonia’ but says there would be ‘insignificant impact on air quality at existing nearby properties’, with no ‘requirement for mitigation beyond the best practice design measures embodied in the broiler unit design’.

To find out more about the application, which will be considered by North Northants Council, search for 18/01284/FUL via the planning portal on the council website.