Residents have claimed victory in their fight against a pheasant farm in Angus.
Stracathro Estates has now withdrawn a retrospective planning application following a “considerable amount of antagonism”.
Neighbours described the move as “welcome news” after raising complaints to Angus Council with regards “odour, noise and general nuisance”.
The pheasant farm has been operating at Mains of Keithock by Brechin for two years on a seasonal basis before the owners were informed planning permission was required.
A retrospective application was initially lodged but has now been withdrawn and the company has made plans to quit the site in 2018 and move elsewhere.
An Angus Council spokesman said: “Officers advised the owners that they would require planning permission for their operation. This was progressed.
“However, during subsequent discussions, we have been advised that the operation will cease and the land will be returned to its previous greenfield condition.”
Resident Andrew Greaves said the decision to withdraw the retrospective planning application is “a vindication of the planning process which is there to prevent inappropriate and misplaced developments”.
He said: “Nobody should be expected to live near to a pheasant farm especially the one which existed beside our cottage.
“Had there been proper consultation and had guidelines been correctly followed a considerable amount of antagonism might have been prevented.
“We are delighted to understand that relevant codes of practice are now in play through planning control.”
Neighbour Tony Dyer said the planning application not proceeding is “welcome news”.
He said: “We look forward to having our privacy and peace back again.”
Stracathro Estates has an active sporting department, with salmon fishing on the North Esk, partridge and pheasant shoots and roe stalking.
Chairman Hugh Campbell Adamson apologised for the inconvenience “the present location of the game rearing farm has caused”.
He said: “Having previously being professionally advised that planning permission was not required due to operation’s temporary and seasonal nature), we were informed by Angus Council in March 2017 that because of a recent ruling by the reporter on a similar business in Perthshire, they would like us to apply for retrospective planning, which we did.
“Since those initial discussions with Angus Council it has become clear that the customary practice of moving game farms to new sites every few years (for husbandry and health reasons) would no longer be practical, due to the need for planning on every move, we will be applying for planning permission on a permanent site large enough to allow rotation but well away from houses.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience that the present location of the game rearing farm has caused our neighbours, but this has to be balanced to a degree by the employment of nine men in the business.
“In amicable discussions with Angus Council, we have undertaken to apply for planning for the new site within two months and to vacate the present site in 2018.”
Most pheasants are born in early summer and after eight weeks of intensive farming are dispatched to estates where, after a short period, they are left to roam wild until the shooting season begins in November.
