COMMUNITY councillors have decided not to object to plans for a poultry shed which would be home to 16,000 free-range laying hens.

Plans were submitted last month for Clerkington Mains, to the west of Haddington, by Ian Pick Associates Ltd and Clerkington Eggs Ltd.

The scheme, which is a near-£500,000 investment on the site, was discussed by the town’s community council last Tuesday evening.

Concerns were raised on the night about the potential smell from the site, which is to the west of the Dovecot site, where almost 200 houses are to be built.

However, Haig Hamilton, who owns a farm, near Drem, told members he had little concern about the proposals.

He said: “They are moving the manure in lorries – it is only when you are spreading it that you get the smell.

“It’s getting loaded into a lorry, sealed over and moved away.

“I don’t know the person, but it is a new entrant starting up a brand new business.”

James Parker, the man behind the plans, has secured a 30-year tenancy of a parcel of land at Clerkington Mains Farm, which extends to eight hectares.

According to the design and access statement, an odour assessment confirms that the proposal is compliant with Environment Agency benchmarks for odour generation.

Mr Parker plans to develop an agricultural building for free range egg production on the farm.

The design and access statement reads: “The proposed development represents an investment in the order of £480,000 in buildings and equipment, and will create full-time employment for the applicant, together with an additional full-time job for egg collection purposes.

“Free range egg production is an extensive and welfare friendly form of egg production, and is a rapidly expanding market in the UK.

“The proposed building at 16,000 birds is not a large unit.”

However, one nearby neighbour had his own concerns about the scheme.

Charles Stevenson, of Clerkington Stables, wrote to the Courier last month.

He said: “This proposal, if granted, would determine the future edge of Haddington, destroy its essentially rural setting and detract from the amenity which the town’s residents currently enjoy. Whilst I have every sympathy for farmers who need to diversify, intensive chicken farming operations should be located in areas where they have the minimum adverse effect on other people.

“Clerkington Mains is not such a location.

“Many residents will have concerns that the town could be affected by the associated smells and dust carried by the prevailing wind (as happened at Ferrygate recently), but the development’s proximity to the town will have other detrimental implications. Visually, this large shed, and the associated high containment fencing surrounding the eight hectares of ranging ground, will dominate and transform this very typical and attractive area of East Lothian landscape.The existing steading will be overwhelmed by the scale and uniform nature of the proposed building.”