THOUSANDS of people have voiced their concerns about plans to build a poultry farm to the west of York.

Councillors have been encouraged to refuse the application for six poultry sheds on 15,800 square metres of land in Rufforth.

They would house 288,000 chickens and include ancillary buildings and a road network. The plans were met with a wave of objections and some 7,732 letters have been received by City of York Council.

A further 6,764 people signed a petition orchestrated by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against the farm.

Only two letters of support have been sent to the authority.

The concerns outlined by residents include animal welfare, traffic, the lack of positive benefits, the impact of pollution on human health, and the impact of the smell, noise and light pollution on residents living nearby.

A report by council planning officer Erik Matthews highlighted a number of issues including including noise, odour and light pollution.

On noise, he said: “The mode of operation of the proposal ensures that the poultry would be confined within the building and any noise arising directly from the farm operation would be the subject to the operation of the Environmental Permit from the Environment Agency.

“Noise may also occur through traffic exiting and leaving the site when new chickens are brought to be fattened and when taken away for processing.

“However, in view of the frequency of such occurrences and their duration it is felt that any material harm would be modest.”

York Press:

He recommended the plan be rejected because “its scale, dense pattern of landscaping and close physical relationship to a principal run-way of Rufforth Airfield would give rise to significant harm to the safety of aircraft and associated gliders taking off and landing.”

“Without the landscaped bund, the agricultural building by virtue of its prominent scale and location would cause significant adverse harm to visual amenity and the landscape character of the area.”