Maelor Foods expresses disappointment at latest planning rejection

A poultry firm has expressed its disappointment after plans to increase its production limit were refused for a second time.

Earlier this week, Wrexham Council’s planning committee turned down a renewed application by Maelor Foods in Cross Lanes to allow the company to process up to a million chickens a week.

Councillors chose not to increase the current limit of 400,000 birds on the grounds of road safety and the impact on nearby residents after previously rejecting the proposals in October.

However, the company has vowed to fight on with an appeal set to go before the Planning Inspectorate in late March.

Maelor Foods managing director Raj Mehta said he was committed to the multi-million pound investment and that the expansion would see a further 80 jobs brought to the area.

He said: “We worked long and hard to resolve the issues raised at the first refusal, including a major investment in further odour control measures and agreeing to fund a comprehensive programme of road improvements for the A525/Pickhill Lane junction.

“We were also able to clearly evidence there will actually be substantially fewer vehicle movements than there were historically, something that will surely be an improvement for the local residents.

“Our application was recommended for approval by both the planning and highways officers.

“Natural Resources Wales have confirmed we are operating within the remit of our licence and using “best available techniques”.

“We look forward to presenting our case to the Planning Inspectorate and seeking to secure the permission we need to continue investing in our business, creating more jobs and boosting the local economy.”

The proposals were recommended for approval by planning officers at Monday’s meeting.

However, Marchwiel councillor John Phillips said he would be going against their advice after highlighting odour issues faced by residents during the summer.

He said: “I challenge any of you in this meeting this evening, would you like it if you were living next door to this?

“Since the factory came into operation with the production of 400,000 chickens in November 2017, while most of us were able to enjoy our recent summer, many residents of Pickhill, Cross Lanes, Sesswick and Bangor-on-Dee have not been able to have their windows open.

“They have been unable to sit in their own gardens and unable to sleep at night because of the noxious smells which are present in their homes, which is common when the wind is blowing in their direction.

“Natural Resources Wales and our own department here at Wrexham Council have confirmed there is a problem at the site and we all appreciate their work in proving this point.”

The majority of councillors voted in favour of rejecting the proposals.

The company’s appeal is set to be considered at a hearing on March 27, 2019.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).