Appeal against refused chicken sheds

A Herefordshire farmer whose controversial plan to build six new chicken sheds was rejected earlier this year will now get a chance to appeal against the decision.

Kinsey Hern of FC Jones & Co sought permission for the sheds, which would have taken up nearly two hectares on a remote field at Green Farm, Lyonshall, and housed up to 312,000 broiler birds at a time, according to his application.

Herefordshire Council refused the bid, saying it failed to demonstrate it would not harm protected river areas in the county.

Its proposed drainage infrastructure was also found inadequate, and the scheme risk harming a nearby ancient woodland and other trees, according to the refusal notice.

The plan drew more than 150 individual objections locally, although the Environment Agency did not formally object to it.

The Government has now announced that it has appointed planning inspector Wayne Johnson to hold a hearing to consider the decision, from 10am on January 31 at Herefordshire Council’s Plough Lane, Hereford, headquarters.

Those wishing to attend hearing, or view it online, must let the council know by January 13, by emailing their details to Planning_appeals@herefordshire.gov.uk and quoting Reference: 213042 Green Farm Appeal.

Meanwhile another planning application lodged in June by Mr Kinsey, for four houses in Lyonshall village, remains undetermined.