Neighbours of farm slurry store approved by council complain about bad smell and flies

NEIGHBOURS of a Square and Compass farm have concerns about smell and flies from a new slurry store approved by council planners.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee approve a ‘farm environmental improvement scheme’ at Llwyndyrys Farm at its meeting on September 3 despite calls for an odour impact assessment.

The farm’s owner, William Prichard, told the committee that new Welsh Government legislation coming into force in January meant he was required to have the capacity to store slurry for five months, rather than the current one month.

“It’s a profitable farm and we aim to be sustainable not only financially but environmentally as well, ” he said.

If he was unable to meet the legislation requirements”long term it will have to stop being a dairy farm,” added Mr Prichard.

Part of the application considered includes a new nutrient store – sometimes referred to as slurry lagoons or pits – which will be located 100 metres away from the nearest property.

Neighbour Roger Derbyshire addressed the meeting, adding his concerns were shared by the former farm owners who still live in the farmhouse next to the land.

He said they did not object to the plans only the increased store which he said was “ten times the existing store” and “much closer to our properties.”

There was a concern about “odour and fly nuisance” and he asked that an odour impact assessment and management plan be carried out.

The auhtpority’s head of public protection had found there had not been a requirement to carry out such an assessment, the interim head of planning David Popplewell told the meeting.

Local member Cllr Neil Prior reiterated residents’ concerns as had the two community councils – Llanrhian and Mathry – during pre-application publicity.

An amendment to planning conditions made by Cllr Vic Dennis which would review odour on the site was not approved by the committee.

Cllr Mark Carter supported the application adding that “the smell arises when the slurry pit is disturbed.”

“This will be emptied every five months not every month so there will be less smell,” he added.

Buildings at the farm are described as “various states of repair” and used for animal housing, implement storage and milking of the current herd of 210 cows, with around 80 calves.

The plan is to improve the autumn calving dairy farm with a covered feed/loafing area, a replacement silage store, a nutrient store, drainage works with attenuation pond, landscaping and planting.