Wildlife Diary from Naunton Beauchamp: Upton Snodsbury Chicken Farm is Given the Go Ahead! A sad day...

Despite a huge amount of effort by local residents the Appeal Inspector has decided to allow the Planning Application for two chicken broiler units housing 80,000 birds to go ahead. Detailed plans will now be submitted. There are some conditions which we sincerely hope protect this beautiful part of Worcestershire countryside.

There was no talk of Localism - how is it possible for Wychavon Council to reject the application by 14-0, for over 70% of local residents to oppose it, only two letters of support - on from the Poultry Association and one from Two Sisters group who Mr Edward Davies of Presteigne, Wales supplies. What value is a Localism Act if this kind of decision is made by an un-elected person on their own (surprisingly quickly after his visit to the site). Not exactly a democratic process.

So, residents of this quiet area where sounds carry in the flood plain which has little in the way of big trees or hedges are going to be disturbed by the catching gangs who arrive during the night when the birds are sleeping. Additional HGV movements are moving the manure from 80,000 chickens seven times a year to...where? Covered trailers, lovely in the heat of the summer and don't even consider spreading it on the land in the winter - you just have to look at the pictures to know that for many months of the year it's going to sit in a great pile of manure stinking and rotting, a haven for rats.

It was pretty predictable but we weren't cynical in the beginning and we followed the process. How disappointing that it has ended like this. The next time the gloves will be well and truly off.

Flooding has not been bad so far this year - pretty typical in fact. 2007 was at least double the depth that we've had so far at the main measurement points. Even so, the Piddle Brook has been close to the top of its banks since before Christmas.

So even if the Applicant has his way mother nature may have a way of ensuring that the operation does not succeed long-term. We can only hope that justice will have its way of being done in the end.