Updated plans for a controversial Perthshire chicken farm are set to be approved next week, despite 66 objections from locals.
Farmer Peter Grewar wants to create a free range poultry site for up to 32,000 hens as part of an expansion of his farm at East Ardler, near Coupar Angus.
The application was due to go in front of councillors last month but was withdrawn from the agenda as officials sought to clarify how much space outside the main shed would be set aside to allow the chickens to graze.
Planning officers have submitted an updated report, including plans for the grazing area, which again recommends councillors approve the plans when they meet on Wednesday March 13.
Local people say the revised plans add to their existing concerns about smell, noise and the knock on effect of increased heavy goods traffic moving through the village.
They are also concerned the developer has been allowed to review their plans without the community being given a further opportunity to object to any changes.
Bob Ellis, 69, from the village, will represent objectors at next week’s planning committee meeting.
He said the new boundary now comes within 165 metres of the nearest house to the farm and just over 230 metres from the village itself.
“People are very emotional about it,” he said.
“There are a lot of people angry because of the closeness to the village itself.”
He said there were already concerns about road safety, the presence of vermin and pollution reaching the nearby Meigle burn.
“This is the second bite of the cherry for them, but there is still a very settled feeling against the development in the village. I would estimate that more than 80 % are definitely against it.”
Anne Condliffe, Perth and Kinross Council’s development quality manager, wrote in her recommendations to councillors: “Further clarification was sought from the applicant on the extent of external range area associated with the building and a plan has now been provided to demonstrate this.
“This area is outwith the planning application boundary but is solely for grazing of the birds similar to a fenced area where sheep or cattle may be kept.
“As such the range area does not require formal planning consent as no change of use is occurring.”
Agents for the farm say the new chicken unit will help diversify the company – best known for its potatoes – and create employment, including spin-off jobs for the haulage and agriculture sector.
