Almost 6,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Powys County Council to refuse planning permission for a new pig farm near Aberhafesp.
The application by farmer Jeff Hopkins seeks to gain permission to build a 1,240 metre square livestock building to house 1,000 pigs at Bank Farm.
But it has sparked a campaign started by animal rights activist Abigail Foster on petitions website change.org. Banners encouraging people to sign the petition have also been placed along roads near the farm.
The petition which has amassed 5,911 signatures claimed that the pigs will have a very small amount of space in each of their pens, although those behind the application insist animal welfare concerns are ‘unfounded’.
Ms Foster said a “large and growing group” of locals have raised concerns which include heavy farm traffic on unsuitable roads, odour pollution, waste management and ethical concerns of intensive and animal farming.
But Mr Hopkins insisted that animal welfare was “at the heart of this planning application”.
“Complaints about the animal welfare credentials of this project are completely unfounded,” a planning statement said.
Many locals have shown opposition to the plans put forward to build an indoor pig farm in Aberhafesp just outside of Newtown. Numerous objections have been given by locals including concerns about heavy farm traffic on unsuitable roads, odour pollution, waste management and ethical concerns of intensive and animal farming. The council is still to set a date for discussing this application and it will now likely drag into the new year as things quieten down over Christmas. A number of local activists have written to the farmer explaining their objections and offering possible solutions, signposting to various grants and help with diversifying to other, less disruptive, options. Since having no response an online petition has been started, quickly amassing almost six thousand signatures asking the council to say “No” to the pig farm plans. A large and growing group; neighbours of the proposed site, local organic farmers, activists and concerned Powys residents - have been sharing information, putting up banners, sending out leaflets, and encouraging people to sign the petition and write to the planning officer.
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