Bird flu fears spark legal threat

Villagers opposed to plans for a large free-range poultry farm on their doorsteps say they will go to the High Court in their fight to stop it.

Egg producer Kinsale Agriculture wants to house 18,000 chickens at Norduck Farm in Aston Abbotts, Buckinghamshire.

The opponents' main concern, which has been discounted by the poultry firm, is the threat of avian flu.

Their lawyers have said they will seek a judicial review if Aylesbury Vale Council gives the plan the go-ahead.

Environmental impact

Kinsale Agriculture, a family-run poultry firm that supplies eggs to Sainsury's, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer supermarkets, wants to build three chicken houses, each to hold 6,000 birds, which would graze outside on adjacent 15-acre plots.

The farm, which is in a conservation area, is flanked by public footpaths and a bridleway.

Planning permission has not yet been formally granted but met with council approval in September.

The village residents' association has queried the authority's indication to allow the chicken farm, which is near to housing, given concerns over avian flu.

Member Jeff Bannister, 49, believes the project's bio-security cannot be guaranteed while there is uncertainty over bird flu and questioned why no environmental impact assessment had been carried out by the council.

'Result of scaremongering'

Kinsale Agriculture told the council there was no risk to human health from the proposed poultry farm.

Roy Buttery, planning consultant for Nigel Williams and owner of Kinsale Agriculture, said the fears were the result of scaremongering.

At a meeting on Wednesday councillors will be asked if they wish to continue supporting the proposals, bearing in mind the issues raised by villagers. If they do, full planning permission is expected be granted in the coming weeks.

A council spokesman said there had been no environmental impact assessment because they are not usually done for poultry farms with fewer than 60,000 birds.