RESIDENTS have again expressed concerns over a new application to build a dairy complex outside Oswestry – as bosses say they are working with Shropshire Council to resolve issues around the site.
Work to expand the dairy complex at Trefarclawdd Farm, near Trefonen, was halted in June after Shropshire Council served an enforcement notice on parent company Yareal.
The notice meant the farming business was forced to stop bringing in materials being used to raise the level of livestock buildings on the site by four metres.
Yareal was also ordered to remove areas of unapproved hardstanding, restore the land to former levels, fill in an underground slurry system, return the buildings to their approved size and fill in two balancing pools.
However, after the enforcement notice was served, the company, through Oswestry-based Roger Parry & Partners, has submitted a new application which could be decided by Shropshire Council in as little as six weeks.
But residents from nearby Coed-Y-Go have opposed the development because of a lack of an environmental impact assessment (EIA), and say the new plans offer nothing different and fear they will be passed 'by the back door'.
The group said: "What was once a small dairy farm, that caused no sizeable adverse impact on the community, has now, or is about to be, turned into an industrial dairy complex, built on piecemeal planning applications – some granted, some refused and some withdrawn – and retrospective planning.
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"Its present scale of operations is already having an adverse effect on the community with the light and noise pollution later, it is expected that odour from the development is likely to have an adverse effect.
"The increase in traffic, for slurry, animal feed, carcass removal and sileage, will continue to destroy the local roads and verges and, remain a danger to cyclists and pedestrians.
"With no pathways along the route to Morda/Weston there is no safe haven for pedestrians, who use the road for recreation and taking children to school.
"And, with the sheer size of the farm plant and HGVs, taking at least two thirds of the road, makes using the road dangerous for ordinary motorists as it is they that have to take avoiding action not the heavy goods and farm vehicles."
The residents also believe that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is not up to standard.
However, Richard Corbett, from Roger Parry and Partners said the new application is intended to address a number of issues raised by the community.
He said: "We are actively working with Shropshire Council through the submission of the substantial planning application as agreed to hopefully address any concerns of the community and to provide additional infrastructure at the farm creating further investment and jobs in agriculture in the local area.
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