Appeal launched over refusal of proposals to extend operating hours of Wrexham chicken farm

An appeal has been launched after plans to extend the operating hours of a large chicken farm in Wrexham were refused.

Permission was granted for a facility for up to 225,000 birds at Cinders Farm in Ruabon in March last year subject to restrictions on delivery times designed to reduce disturbance to neighbours.

The company which runs the farm applied to vary the conditions just three months later in a bid to allow 24-hour bird deliveries and collections.

However, the move was rejected by Wrexham Council’s planning committee about the impact on nearby residents and the local road network.

Soaltar Limited has now lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate in an attempt to remove the restrictions.

It comes after consultants acting on their behalf said the changes were necessary for the welfare of the birds.

In an appeal statement, they said: “It is wholly unreasonable to have imposed the condition on the Cinders Farm scheme in the first instance and there are no justifiable planning grounds to have refused the variation of this condition which unfairly and unjustifiably impedes Soaltar’s operational requirements.

“The appeal must therefore be allowed, and the condition varied.

“Bird collection is a more sensitive operation than egg collection and therefore requires less operational restrictions.

“The amended wording provides clarity to ensure it does not place an onerous requirement on Soaltar Ltd and its poultry farm operation whilst remaining well within the acceptable limits of noise, traffic and residential amenity impact.

“The amended condition will also ensure the poultry operation accords with animal welfare requirements from the RSPCA that advises on bird collections during the night time and early morning when birds of resting.”

The original plans to create the facility were approved by a single vote after 65 objections from neighbours, who expressed worries about how it would impact the busy A539.

The proposal to vary the original conditions was also backed to go ahead by the authority’s chief planning officer, but refused by the majority of committee members at October’s meeting.

Outlining its case, the council has stood by the decision made by councillors and also asked inspectors to dismiss an appeal for costs made by Soaltar.

Officials said: “The proposals will result in traffic entering and leaving the site during the night and early hours of the morning to the detriment of the standard of amenity afforded to the occupiers of nearby residential properties.

“In imposing the condition and refusing to allow it to be varied, the council has had proper regard to relevant material planning considerations and has not acted unreasonably.

“The inspector is respectfully requested to dismiss the appeal and the application for an award of costs.”

The appeal will be decided by an inspector appointed by the Welsh Government at a later date.

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter