Fears over 'noisy' and 'smelly' cow shed plans

Locals have said it would be noisy and smelly to have hundreds of cows living nearby

Plans for a cattle farm on the edge of a north Staffordshire town have been recommended for refusal.

Dozens of residents objected to the proposals for three beef rearing units at Westwood Hall Farm in Leek, which together could house hundreds of cows.

Officers at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council described the plans as “inappropriate and out of place”, and recommended they should not go ahead.

Members of the council’s planning committee will meet to consider the plans on Thursday.

Residents raised concerns over noise and odour from the farm, as well as the impact it would have on local roads.

One of the proposed buildings would be 555 sq m in size, while the other two would each be 660 sq m.

A planning statement explained the intention was to increase the farm’s herd from 380 to up to 800, but after concerns were raised the applicant later said they would be agreeable to a limit of between 400 and 500 cows.

Objector John Hill said: “If this application is accepted this will change the nature of the west end of Leek from a beautiful place to live into a place of industrial farming with all the biohazards that come with this.”

Another objector, Gemma Barker, said: “I feel the plans are not suitable to be this close to any school, yet Westwood College is right next door.”

Leek Town Council has also objected to the application, citing concerns with noise levels and the smell of manure which it said could disrupt learning.

The district council’s planning officers said that while some issues could be dealt with through conditions, there were too many uncertainties for the plans to be acceptable in their current form.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.