By Donal McMahon
Copyright belfastlive
A Lisburn farm plan for 32,000 chickens has raised “catastrophic vermin” concerns. The planning application for a free range egg laying business has been submitted to the council with 34 objection letters on claims of “480 tonnes” of manure being shovelled causing bad odour fears in a residential area. A huge poultry shed is proposed to house thousands of hens on the Tullynacross Road with an elected member saying it’s “ludicrous” their waste will be spread on fields in Sligo. READ MORE: Lambeg drum noise warning to flute band criticised. READ MORE: Education Minister sets date for school curriculum change to help those struggling in education. At this week’s environment committee, Lisburn North SDLP councillor, Pat Catney said: “I am raising concerns over an application for a 32,000 chicken farm that is close to an important water source with concerns raised by local residents. “This is planned for a small country road and the infrastructure is just not there to handle the lorries that will be required. The chickens’ waste is to be transported off to fields in Sligo, to me that sounds absolutely ludicrous and leaves me shocked to think this would go forward, to the point I am removing myself from the planning committee on this application.” On the Northern Ireland Planning Portal , one objection letter reads: “We have recently had some sightings of rats. There were a couple of hens kept in our row. When I rang the council’s pest control, their comment was ‘where there are hens, there are rats’. I conclude therefore that where there are 32,000 hens, there will be the potential for catastrophic vermin infestations in the vicinity.” Another wrote: “I am aware of the noise made from a small number of chickens, never mind a shed housing 32,000, and I can’t begin to imagine the smells that would accumulate in the area either.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the applicant’s agent Henry Marshall Brown Architectural Partnership. A spokesperson said: “We have no comment to make at this time.” A Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council officer responded in chambers, saying: “The environment health committee will be a consultee on the planning application and will look at the concerns raised. “We would be happy to engage with residents on any issues of concern and will meet with them.” For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
