UPDATE: Residents in the Northumberland hamlet of Colwell are urgently campaigning against a controversial proposal for four intensive poultry unit sheds at Well House Farm. The application, which seeks to house a staggering 220,000 broiler chickens per cycle, could lead to the rearing of approximately 1.7 million chickens annually.
Local residents have filed over 100 objections, raising serious concerns about animal welfare, environmental pollution, and the potential decline in property values. Rachel Mellor, a 57-year-old sales assistant from nearby Cambo, expressed the community’s fears. “If this proposed factory farm is allowed to go ahead, it will cause irreparable and severe harm to the lives and the health of the men, women, and children who call Colwell home,” she stated.
The proposed sheds are located close to the Hallington Reservoirs Wildlife Site, which residents believe could be severely impacted. “Local businesses will suffer, and property values will be affected. We must protect our community and wildlife from the well-documented harms of intensive chicken farming,” Mellor added.
In a letter to Northumberland County Council, Joe Morris, Labour MP for Hexham, echoed these concerns. He highlighted the risks of water pollution due to ammonia emissions and runoff from manure, which could affect the drinking water quality of the Colwell Burn, ultimately feeding into the River Tyne. Morris noted, “The concentration of thousands of birds in close confinement significantly elevates the local risk of avian influenza outbreaks.”
Residents are taking action by leafleting door-to-door and outside local supermarkets, with support from the advocacy group Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF). Jo Lazarus, Volunteer Coordinator for CAFF, stated, “Locals are horrified at the thought of thousands of birds suffering in terrible conditions just down the road from them.” She emphasized that the proposal poses significant risks to local air quality and water resources while hampering national carbon reduction targets.
Campaign groups such as Compassion in World Farming and Sustain have also submitted objections to the scheme. Northumberland County Council has acknowledged the objections but stated, “We are unable to comment on live planning applications. Residents can make comments through the Council’s planning portal, which will be considered as part of the application.”
As community members rally together, the future of this intensive chicken farming proposal hangs in the balance. Residents are urged to stay informed and engaged as the situation develops.
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