The erection of an agricultural building for free range egg production at a farm in Begelly has been approved.

The application for Langdon Farm, near Kilgetty, submitted by Mr. G Curtis, of Langdon Enterprises Ltd, was discussed at a meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

The committee heard how the application site, situated on a minor road west of Begelly, 800 metres north of Jeffreyston and 850 metres north of Broadmoor, is in a countryside location with several farms and isolated private dwellings in the area, the nearest of which is situated 350 metres to the south.

The applicant currently operates a free range egg laying unit with 32,000 laying hens, from two large modern agricultural buildings immediately to the south of the existing farmhouse and farm complex.

This application seeks permission for the erection of an agricultural building to accommodate a further 32,000 laying hens. The building would be located in the southern portion of a field to the south east of the farmhouse and existing buildings at Langdon Farm. The proposed building would measure 120 metres in length and 23.47 metres in width resulting in a footprint of 2,816 square metres. The eaves height would measure 3 metres and the ridge height 6.15 metres. The building would be of steel frame construction and the walls and roof would comprise composite panels/profile sheeting coloured green.

Four associated feed bins, a new access track and turning area, an underground dirty water tank and an attenuation pond are also proposed.

Begelly/Kilgetty Community Council recommended approval of the application, along with East Williamston Community Council.

However, a representation from the campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), with 25,000 names attached to a petition, was received from the planning authority, objecting to the proposal and raising number of issues.

They stated that ‘Free-range’ farms such as the expanded facility proposed, cause animals immense suffering.

PETA also raised concerns that the proposal would have a negative impact on air quality and potential detrimental effect on human health, wildlife and the environment from Ammonia from chicken waste emitted from the new building into the surrounding area.

They also stated that expanded operations on the farm would be likely to produce strong odours including from the chickens waste and litter which could potentially disturb local residents and have a negative impact on their air quality.

A report that went before the planning committee from the Authority’s director of community services, stated that the majority of these issues had been addressed, and that animal welfare issues are controlled by other legalisation and was therefore not a material planning consideration.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has already granted a permit for the new building and says that it will be the subject of regulatory control and that permit conditions will also be applied.

Local county councillor David Pugh told the meeting that he had ‘no hesitation’ in recommending approval for the application.

“The farm has existed and run successfully fir a number of years without any complaint as far as I’m aware,” he said.

“The issues around the environment and ecological problems have been addressed within the report. The community council of Kilgetty and Begelly discussed it at some length and were fully supportive of the application.

“I’ve got no hesitation in recommending approval subject to the conditions,” added Clr. Pugh.

The majority of the committee members voted to approve the application.