1 day Ago By [email protected] (Ivan Morris Poxton)
Plans for a poultry farm in North Lincolnshire are being opposed by PETA as a "chicken prison". An environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening request has been made for plans to build two chicken sheds on agricultural land off Redbourne Road, Redbourne, near Kirton-in-Lindsey. The units would be capable at any one time of holding together 73,000 chickens.
Based on a submitted document of 7.5 to 7.6 cycles of chickens in the units, it would get through approximately 550,000 chickens a year.
Animal rights group PETA has objected to it, and launched a petition against it. PETA says more than 16,000 people have signed the petition, urging North Lincolnshire Council to reject the plan. The move to build the poultry units is actually because of increased higher welfare standards now demanded by British supermarkets - though PETA disputes their efficacy.
"Thousands of compassionate people have spoken, and North Lincolnshire Council should heed their concerns over animal welfare, the environment, and the health of the community," says PETA Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner. "PETA is calling for this plan to be scrapped to spare millions of birds a lifetime of suffering and an agonising death." PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat" – notes chickens as smart, social, and sensitive individuals who love their families and value their lives.
"The proposal will capitalise on an opportunity within the UK market that has arisen due to introduction of new higher animal welfare standards," states JHG Planning Consultancy in a submitted application document, on behalf of the farmer applicant. A number of major UK supermarkets, including Tesco and Asda, have signed up to the the 'Better Chicken Commitment' (BCC) in the last two years. Read More: Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Scunthorpe with our free newsletter This commitment requires suppliers to stock chicken less densely - at 30kg per metre squared, compared to previous industry standard 38kg per metre squared.
The greater the space for the chickens, the "superior physiological and psychological welfare", resulting in high quality meat and lower mortality rates. "Although poultry producers are now paid more money per broiler chicken reared, there has been a significant UK wide drop in production of circa 20 per cent," JHG Planning Consultancy states. It also states an extra 600 poultry units will be required in England alone to bring production levels back to pre-BCC standards, as demands for higher welfare domesticated chickens grows.
The applicant has entered into a broiler chicken supply contract with Moy Park Ltd. This would see chickens transported off to Anwick, North Kesteven, for processing. "The 'Better Chicken Commitment' is a sham that does nothing to improve the lives of birds," claims PETA in its objection.
It cites investigations into RSPCA-assured schemes showing chickens dying from dehydration and starvation to support this. Disease, ammonia, increased traffic, odours, and use of higher quality Grade 3a agricultural land to build on also feature in PETA's extensive objection. 502 delivery vehicle trips each year are expected to be produced by the chicken farm.
The closest home to the poultry farm would be 840 metres away and Redbourne the closest settlement, at 1.6km away. It is estimated the poultry farm would produce two full-time, and a number of part-time, jobs.
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