PLANS to create a 1,000-cow dairy unit in Leighton have been resubmitted to the planning committee.

The original plan, submitted last autumn by farmer Fraser Jones, was withdrawn several weeks ago following complaints from residents and points raised by the Environment Agency.

A spokeswoman for the EA said: “Firstly, the applicant had not supplied adequate information to demonstrate that the risks posed to groundwater can be satisfactorily managed.

“Secondly, there was insufficient technical information submitted to support the proposal in regard to slurry storage, silage storage and the manure management plan.”

Now the farmer has altered and resubmitted the plans, to include a new manure management plan.

“All we have changed is that slurry will no longer be put on rented ground, it will only be put on owned ground, which makes up our new manure management plan,” explained Fraser. “This has addressed the Environment Agency’s concerns. There will also be a few highway improvements, in that we are maintaining the existing entrances rather than scrapping them or making new ones.

“We’re also adding more trees to reduce the visual impact of the unit,” he added.
The rest of the plans, to house up to 1,000 milking cows, will remain the same.

Notices went up in Leighton inviting local people with concerns and questions to meet with Fraser by appointment at chartered surveyors Roger Parry’s, Welshpool yesterday (Thursday, March 3).

* A campaign group named ‘CALFe’ – Campaign Against Leighton Farm expansion – has organised another public meeting next Tuesday night, March 8, at 7pm in Leighton Village Hall.

Mr Jones is expected to attend. The group has stressed that any previous objections will not be taken into account by planners as this is a new proposal, and that if people wish to object they need to write again.

The revised plans can be viewed at the council offices, weekdays 10am-4pm or online at http://planning.powys.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=8 5572, planning reference P/2011/0156.