Action group to fight new pig farm plans
Upton residents are concerned over the potential development on nearby land, which will mean the building of a new pig farm, with upwards of 1,500 pigs. L to R) Julie Carritt, Andrea Whiteley, Lynn Crossley, Don Crossley, Denise Pallett with son, Daniel. h7651a205
CAMPAIGNERS who won a battle against plans to build a 1,500-animal pig farm metres from their homes are to set up an action group after the applicant appealed the decision.
The Express reported in September how plans to build three livestock buildings housing 1,500 pigs on land just off Beaconfield Road, Upton, were refused by Wakefield Council’s planning committee.
Councillors refused the plans on the grounds of traffic impact, the loss of amenity value and the visual impact.
But Townsend Planning Consultants, acting on behalf of applicant Chris Hopkinson, has appealed and submitted highways evidence by consultant Paul Howarth which states there are no highway safety or capacity reasons why the plans could not go ahead.
But residents have said they will fight against the plans once again.
Julie Carritt, of Beaconfield Road, said: “We are going to fight it tooth and nail. It’s all at a very early stage at the minute but there are a lot of people who oppose the plans. We just hope that the appeal is a formality and that the panel will stick by the original decision.
“People will say it’s typical ‘not in my backyard’ stuff, but this literally would be in my backyard and it is not a small development.”
A mobile home, which would also be located on the site, was refused and has also been appealed.
District councillor Allan Garbutt said: “I still maintain it’s inappropriate when you’ve got heavy goods vehicles coming through Field Lane where there are always cars parked.
“It’s being squashed into a very inappropriate place when it would be better sited elsewhere and, as I said before, it is thwart with danger.”
Townsend Planning Consultants did not wish to comment.
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Weather for Wakefield
Wednesday 19 June 2013
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