Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Maggi Young on December 06, 2016, 04:34:04 PM
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From Rob Potterton http://www.pottertons.co.uk/pott/index.php (http://www.pottertons.co.uk/pott/index.php)
We have a serious threat to the nursery. Our new farmer neighbours have submitted a planning application for an enormous shed to house a 32,000 free range egg producing chicken farm just 100 metres from our boundary (see image). We are extremely worried that the noise & emitted odour will severely threaten our business & livelihood.
The nursery is unique to Lincolnshire and one of the few of its kind in UK & Europe. It offers a range of 1200 varieties of alpines, bulbs and woodland plants whilst also offering visitors the opportunity to walk around our peaceful, tranquil 5 acre botanical garden.
The application number is 135476.
Objections & full details can be found online, by visiting http://docs.west-lindsey.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=135476 (http://docs.west-lindsey.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=135476) and following the link "Comment on Application". Objections must be received by 23 December.
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Just imagine what impact a chicken farm could have for visitors hoping to enjoy a visit around a display garden and plant nursery. Potterton's have been in business for 45 years and are world-renowned - if you 'd like to help, then please follow the links to the council planning dept. COMMENT page to make your feelings known. I've written my objection to the proposal. Maggi
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What a worrying development for Bob. I have made an objection following the link Maggi gave - it's a very easy process so I do encourage you to do the same if you want to help.
Paul
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Done.
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I don't know whether it is allowed for foreigners to object but I have done it!
Does this kind of action help? Or is it just a play to the gallery? (I mean, do the authorities take notice?)
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We can but hope they do, Trond. It cannot hurt to point out the damage possible to a long established local business which has a fine reputation around the UK and beyond, which brings goodwill to the county.
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Done
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Comments sent.
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It is also done, I asked if it is necessary to develop a new breeding of poultry (one more) by stifling an internationally renowned nursery. I also said that chickens are not endangered ... alpine plants grown there well.
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Chicken farms seem to be a booming business in the county, which I suppose is no bad thing when they are correctly situated. We have one about half a mile to the south of town and it has a choice aroma when they clean out the huts. But recent plans to build one right next to Leasingham village seem to have been scrapped after local outcry, though I emphasise local.
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Many years ago I was involved in research into effects on plants of excessive deposition of nitrogen (especially ammonium) downwind of intensive chicken and pig farms. There is almost certainly a lot of scientific literature that could be cited to demonstrate there is a direct threat to the nursery stock and therefore the business. This might be a more tangible approach to take rather than non quantifiable threats such as noise and aroma putting off customers. I can dig out some papers to send if it helps.
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I am sure that would be helpful, Darren and that Rob ad Jackie will be most grateful - thank you.
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Not long ago I was a full time farmer in the U.S.A. Similar issues such as the chicken farm came up all of the time. It may seem hard to believe, but our permitting authorities were generally very level headed and would not permit a high density egg farm next to such a nursery. I attended some of those meetings and it does help to have as much help in your favor as possible. I personally lobbied the irrigation district on several occasions and the local newspaper came out to the farm and gave me an interview - front page story. This sort of stuff works. "The squeaky wheel gets the attention". If the egg farm promoters have deep pockets, I can also tell you that David sometimes defeats Goliath. I certainly hope that there is a favorable outcome to all of this.
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Done, and I managed to keep my language in check. Chickens indeed.
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Sadly, planning permission for the chicken sheds has been given. We can only hope that the impact on Potterton's nursery will not be a detrimental as feared.