Last night I voted to remove the decision on the application for a chicken farm in Chainhurst from the planning committee’s agenda. That decision was controversial and while I gave an explanation in the meeting I think it is right that I also put my thoughts down here too.
The application is for a 128,000 chickens to be intensively farmed for eggs in an area beside the River Beult which is a SSSI (a site of special scientific interest). It is on a flood plain, the site has ancient woodland, rare birds such as turtle doves and so on. It is clearly a worrying prospect.
The committee papers that are supposed to advise members on the facts of the application were appalling. Usually I read papers and make a note of one or two questions to ask but in this case I filled a whole sheet with unanswered questions. Usually the officers write good reports, in this case, despite it being a such high importance, they failed.
Not only did they fail to provide answers to the most basic questions on issues such as the impact on the river, they stated that ‘it is still not certain whether there would be significant pollution’ but then went on to recommend that the application be agreed. Their recommendation seemed to be at odds with everything that they did present, let alone what they didn’t put in the papers.
People locally want this application declined. It has sat in the officer’s todo list for three years which is far too long. But, had this been declined last night it would have been almost certainly overturned and agreed at appeal based on the officers report.
I have no idea why the Conservatives voted en-masse to push us down a dangerous path such as this. Even the leader of the council turned up to speak and to ask that the application be decided last night. The Conservative’s stance was reckless at best, destructive at worst.
I want this application decided quickly but it must be presented to the committee with at least some answers. I am pleased that the motion to withdraw came with a requirement for a new report to be produced quickly so that we can get on with this decision. I will be writing to the head of planning to express my concerns to him and to ask that he give proper oversight.