Wednesday 10 December 2014

The Chicken Show goes on: a welcome encore depending who you are!!

What price local decision making? 



I wrote on Facebook recently an extract from the original NKDC meeting about the problems of having a Chicken Farm between Leasingham and Sleaford. The article calls it Poultry so forgive me if I am being too precise. 

It said " To my knowledge it will use Chicken Waste (this in respect of the Anaerobic Digestion Plan) ."

 However the papers to Planning, in August mentioned re Poultry Farm, Poultry Farms by their nature require a Countryside location which is not adjacent to existing dwellings. They also require significant land. The Operational Phase covered particulate Emissions which lays down that local Authorities must (statutory duty) assess and review air quality within their district against objectives set by Government. Also on Odours "Intensive poultry units can be a source of odours generated by the decomposition of waste products such as faeces, urine, feathers and bedding materials. "


So, not surprisingly residents are upset that, after Councillors had rejected the application, an appeal is going direct to the Secretary of State.  Appeal to the Secretary of State. 

The other issue if passed - where does this leave local democracy? Is it a matter that, if Planning and Highways and Environmental Health, for one reason or another, do not object  then democratic power is undermined?

 Or is it that THe Inspector will review whether or not the Planners have done a sufficiently robust job?

 The jury is out?  

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