A row has erupted over plans to build a chicken farm in rural Perthshire.
German poultry specialists Lohmann Tierzurcht wants to transform woodland at Tullybelton, near Bankfoot, on the edge of Perth.
The firm, which is the largest breeder company in the world, has tabled an application for planning consent for three poultry houses for about 43,500 birds.
Bosses want to open a site in Scotland due to its “high health status” following the avian flu outbreak which shook up the industry a few years ago.
However, the ambitious bid is facing a backlash from nearby residents.
Auchtergaven Community Council has raised concerns about potential odour problems and the visual impact of the farm.
But there are also complaints from people living nearby, who were not notified about the development as part of the statutory consultation process.
Scott Massie, who manages the Tullybelton estate, said: “We only found out about these plans recently.
“We never received a letter about it because only neighbours living within a certain distance of the site are notified. That’s fine if you’re talking about someone building an extension to their house, but not for a development like this.”
Mr Massie, 30, added: “Some local people came to our door, thinking we were the ones behind it.
“Since then, I have tried to speak to everyone living nearby about this. All the ones I spoke to said they were dead against this and only a few of them had even heard about it.”
Mr Massie said his main concerns were the potential impact on local wildlife and roads.
“Everyone here knows there is a lot of wildlife in this area, including pine martins, and that really needs to be addressed properly,” he said.
“And the narrow roads here are just not suitable for the kind of vehicles this farm will be using. They are talking about creating passing places, but I can’t see that any land owners will agree to give them the land to do that.”
In papers lodged with council planners, agents for Lohmann Tierzucht say there will be one or two feed truck deliveries each day, as well as two egg dispatch vehicles – by van or small truck – a week.
The move would create up to 12 full-time jobs.
No one from the company was willing to comment on the proposal, but a statement submitted to the local authority noted: “The benefits of the development would be substantial. There are no planning reasons why they cannot be secured now. It is requested therefore that PKC grants detailed planning consent for the proposed poultry layer breeding farm at Tullybelton by Bankfoot.”
The plan is expected to be brought before councillors for a final decision next month.
