AFTER a planning application was submitted for a 100,000 bird chicken farm extension in Berriew, a petition has been set up to object to it, and local residents have been urged to air their views at community meetings.

The application was submitted to Powys County Council for the expansion of Groes-y-Garreg Farm at the beginning of September. It is for two broiler poultry buildings and a blending shed, associated infrastructure, highways improvements and landscaping.

The applicant, RM & CA Bright, is a family dairy farm, milking 190 cows. It has 244 acres of land; 200 acres owned and 44 acres rented.

On the application it says: “To help ensure the viability of the farming business for future generations, and to help meet the high demand for chicken, it is proposed to locate two poultry rearing and associated infrastructure on the farmland.”

A Berriew village informal meeting will take place on Thursday, October 17, to discuss the proposed development.

Darrell Shephard, from Say Cluck Off, said: “This very informal meeting and has been arranged by local residents closest to this proposed development and while we are likely to be the most adversely affected by it, we are very aware that this proposed development affects the whole village and further afield. The consequences of lorry movements, traffic and public health are completely unknown to many people locally.”

The meeting will take place at 6.30pm at the Community Centre.

On Monday, October 21, at 8pm in the Berriew Bowling Club, the community council is holding a planning meeting to discuss the application and make its recommendation to the Powys Planning Process.

A petition has been set up on Change.org called ‘Say “Cluck Off” To The Berriew Chicken Factory’. At the time of print, it has almost 400 signatures.

Mr Shephard said: “If you agree this very large chicken factory should be cited in a suitable location for a factory, away from family homes and on a suitable road transport link, then we urge you to please sign our petition.”