Animal rights activists are planning to halt the creation of an "essential" new pig farm in Northamptonshire by petition.
Cranford Power wants to build a unit to rear and finish 800 pigs at a time on land west of the A510 at Cranford, near Kettering.
But activists from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) say the new farm will cause a problems, including ‘strong odours’ which will disturb local residents. The campaigners also say traffic on the A510 will ‘intensify’.
The petition reads: “After hearing that a new pig farm condemning up to 1,600 pigs at any one time to lives of misery could be built on land west of the A510 in Cranford, almost 20,000 concerned PETA supporters, including many local residents, have signed a petition to Kettering Borough Council to urge its planning department to reject the application.”
A planning statement said the farm represents an "essential" farm diversification project.
“The proposed building will be used for the rearing and finishing of pigs on a straw-based high welfare rearing system,” it said.
“The proposed system is not intensive. It will enable the applicant to become more competitive and economically sustainable.
“The proposal represents an essential farm diversification project as a result of low commodity prices relating to the production of cereal crops.”
A decision is due to be made by November 2 this year.
