Despite opposition letters, another pig unit development given go-ahead in Shropshire

The NPA said the UK is 45% self-sufficient in pig-meat and needs to commit to local and global food security
The NPA said the UK is 45% self-sufficient in pig-meat and needs to commit to local and global food security

Another pig unit has been given the go-ahead in Shropshire despite opposition from local residents and animal welfare campaigners.

Shropshire Council's planning committee unanimously approved farmer Lee Gilbert's proposed 2,000 pig rearing unit near Market Drayton.

But 128 letters were sent in opposition to the plans.

The campaign was launched by vegan animal rights campaign group Viva!, according to the Shropshire Star.

More campaigns were raised by residents, local farms, pubs and Adderley Parish Council, focusing on the problem of noise from the pigs, water pollution and traffic.

Last month, plans for a new pig farm in Lincolnshire were approved, despite mass opposition from local residents and animal rights campaigners determined to stop it.

Local food security

The development would deliver
The development would deliver 'high welfare and management standards'

But Richard Denison, case officer for the council, also highlighted letters of support, including from National Pig Association policy services manager Lizzie Wilson.

The NPA letter was also referenced by councillors during the hearing.

Miss Wilson said the UK is 45% self-sufficient in pig-meat and needs to commit to local and global food security.

"Historically producers have been unable to reinvest in new buildings, equipment and technology due to poor profitability which has impacted on productivity and our ability to compete with cheaper imported pigmeat," said Miss Wilson.

"UK agriculture has consequently tried where possible to improve and drive efficiency and has increased in terms of scale to facilitate this progression, comparable to any other business."

She also addressed concerns over the scale of the unit.

Describing it as a 'medium sized enterprise which will conform to high welfare and management standards', Miss Wilson stressed that comparisons to huge US and Canadian pig businesses were entirely ill-founded.

Animal rights 'interference'

Councillor Pauline Dee, member of Shropshire Council's north planning committee said the plans will hopefully lead to a successful business.

Mr Denison said the applicant had grown up in the local area and worked on farms during his childhood and was now seeking to set up his own farming enterprise.

He said the development would deliver 'high welfare and management standards.'

The positive decision in Shropshire follows hot on the heels of the decision to give the go-ahead to a 2000-pig unit at Upton in Lincolnshire, despite 7,500 people signing a petition opposing it.

Miss Wilson welcomed the Market Drayton decision.

She said: "This highlights yet again that interference from animal rights organisations based on scurrilous animal welfare claims simply does not work. It’s not a planning consideration and it’s not credible.

"We will continue, as an industry, to promote our high production standards and fight for planning permission to ensure we are able to meet government’s post Brexit objectives to improve animal welfare and increase productivity, efficiency and our export potential."