Please stop plans for the Foston Pig Farm!
It is disgusting to encourage or approve of intensive farming of any kind; pig farming is bad
enough when it is not on this scale. This cannot go ahead.
I object in no uncertain terms to the construction of a large pig farm for the following reasons:
1] High concentrations of animals are a health risk, not only to the animals, but to human
health. I would not wish to see a repeat of a situation which, for example, foot and mouth
disease and bird flu presented to us all. The 'superbugs' like C. difficile and Pig MRSA, found
increasingly in hospitals are a growing problem in pigs.
2] Already pig farming contributes a large share of such antibiotic use, which is in turn
responsible for antibiotic resistance in people. It would not be in the public interest to
introduce large scale pig farms.
3] Mass farming of animals has a negative impact on the welfare of that animal, where costs
must be tightly controlled.
I object strongly to this proposal. The scale is much too big and would occupy green field
land. The disposal of waste from 2,500 breeding sows would create problems, leading to
widespread unpleasant smells and fly infestation. It would lead to excessive HGV movement
through neighbouring villages. So many pigs confined together would provide a reservoir for
dangerous microbes.
Why must we always follow the Americans?? Did we learn anything from BSE and Foot and
Mouth? This proposed Battery pig farm is an abomination; we should be encouraging high
welfare farming not new levels of depravity towards the animals we are responsible for.
How can you even consider something that carries so many risks? For me this is a no brainer,
it isn’t going to improve the quality of life for people, the animals or the environment bar the
people making money from this business. Would you want your children to eat food produced
at such a place?
I wish to oppose this planning application as it will set a precedent for UK farming, making it
easier for further farms of lower animal welfare standards to follow suit. Farming on such a
scale increases risk of disease in animals and will impact negatively on the animals' welfare
and therefore is neither sustainable nor ethical. This will further affect the farming community
putting pressure on smaller independents in competition.
Foston Pig Prison should never be built. We need Farms not factories. Please don't let this go
ahead. It will be bad for pigs and bad for environment.
This is disgusting in this day and age, factory farming pigs! This from the UK who are meant
to have the best animal welfare standards in the world? After the cheap meat pig abuse, this
planned factory should be aborted with no new plans considered in the future. The welfare of
these animals will be seriously overlooked if this massive scale 'animal factory' is to be
allowed to go ahead and then you will be to blame when undercover footage captures abuse,
and i guarantee you, it will happen! I urge you not to allow this to go ahead!
Firstly, the way we respect our planet is indicated by the way we treat are animals. ALL
animals are live, sentient beings and as such have rights of their own and must be seen as
such. Therefore, prior to slaughter, they must be allowed to live a life, as close to that as
possible to that which they would have naturally. . This means the freedom to roam around
and forage, to give birth in a clean comfortable environment, to have access to fresh clean
water and fresh air. In other words to be handled with respect. This need to be mandatory.
Anything less is an inditement of the human race and our behaviour towards those for whom
we have made ourselves responsible.
Secondly, healthy animals produce healthy food and healthy food produces healthy people.
This is a far more cost effective route in the long run. Anything less is a case of 'short term
gain for long term pain!' and I, for one, am strongly against the abuse of animals for this
purpose.
Dear Sir/Madam
Planning Application CW9/0311/174 Foston pig farm
I am writing to lodge a formal objection to the proposed intensive pig farm at Foston, South
Derbyshire (by Midland Pig Producers (MPP)). The reasons for my objection are below.
Animal welfare: I know this isn't taken into account when deciding the outcome of planning
meetings, but I strongly believe it should be - and, despite welfare improvements MPP have
suggested they will make, I do not believe that it is possible to provide high welfare for 26,000
pigs on an indoor farm this size.
Risk to human health: keeping large numbers of animals near residential dwellings (Foston
prison and the village itself - where the nearest inhabited dwelling is only 20m from the
perimeter) is a potential disease risk to humans. In light of recent swine flu outbreaks and a
recent study that showed that potentially deadly superbugs can be spread by flies from pig
farms to people living miles away this should be of particular concern.
Environmental impact: this farm will not be green, as MPP have suggested. In fact, it is my
understanding that the methane from the pigs themselves will produce over twice as much
carbon equivalent gases as the neighbouring village of Foston itself.
Anaerobic digester: I understand that this is being used to strip the slurry of methane and to
stop smell. However, it is also my understanding that anaerobic digesters can actually be
responsible for producing smells and toxic gases, and in the worst case scenario can be a fire
or explosion risk. Good practice dictates that these should not be built next to residential
areas (especially one of this size) - and to do so would potentially put lives at risk. It will also
use huge amounts of water - as will the farm itself - and would potentially pollute surrounding
land.
Noise: the developers say that the noise will be minimal. This is hard to take seriously, as
noise will be generated by machinery and from the animals themselves as they are taken to
slaughter (a thousand a week). MPP say that the nearby road will drown the noise out, but it
is my understanding that the noise level from the road is not consistent and some residential
units are closer to the farm itself than they are to the road.
Impact on wildlife: the development will obliterate a productive Greenfield site, whilst
Brownfield sites are nearby. Bat roosts have been potentially identified, and building work and the farm itself - whilst perhaps not encroaching directly onto it, will still possibly have a
negative effect on wildlife.
HM Foston: I believe it is wrong to build such a development next to a group of people who
have no rights to play a part in deciding whether it should be built or not. It is also my
understanding that MPP have declared that the women's prison could be powered by energy
produced on the farm, but no agreement that I am aware of - formal or even informal - has
been entered into. In fact, the energy produced may not power any part of the village - and is
therefore would be of no direct benefit to the local area.
Increased traffic: the A50 through Foston is already a busy road. The pig farm will bring more
traffic - especially heavy goods vehicles - that will increase congestion. As the road outside of
Foston has been the scene of several road traffic accidents in recent times, this could make
the situation worse.
Jobs for local people: MPP have said the development will provide jobs for local people.
However, the acquisition of residential properties from the women's prison suggests that
workers from outside the area will be brought in - further increasing traffic.
Precedence against the development at Foston: it is my understanding that, in the past, a
neighbouring property had its planning application turned down because of its potential effect
on the view (Maidensley Farm - where the erection of a chimney was refused). The pig farm
development at Foston will change the local view incalculably more and should not be
allowed.
Derbyshire County Councils Environmental Policy: it is my understanding that this
development may contravene the council's own environment policy, by potentially polluting,
increasing traffic, being noisy and generally disruptive.
To sum up: I believe that the proposal has no discernable benefits for the local community
whatsoever. Housing on site is surely to attract workers from outside the area. As far as I am
aware, the women's prison has denied that it has entered into any agreement with MPP and
as any energy produced will go to the national grid it will have no direct relevance to Foston
itself. No amount of environmental enhancement from MPP will disguise the fact that a
massive industrial agricultural unit has obliterated a Greenfield site and forever altered the
landscape around this ancient village. It will also unquestionably increase traffic on a road
(A50) that has suffered traffic accidents recently. It will also likely to bring an unreasonable
increase in noise levels for adjoining residents from machinery, traffic and the animals
themselves. Finally, the potential health and environmental consequences of placing what
could be Britain's largest ever pig farm next to an inhabited area should not be
underestimated. Derbyshire County Council may be going against its own Environmental
Policy by doing so.
MPP's plans to develop land at Foston for intensive pig farming must not be given approval.
We know now the results of keeping animals in large numbers and confined in unnatural
conditions. Stresses on these animals contributes to lowered immunity, higher incidence if
disease needing more medication. The resulting slurry is a toxic waste. We need to change
our attitude to meat eating, making it more of a treat, treating it with respect and being less
wasteful. Meat is far too cheap when produced in this disgusting way and will always threaten
us with public health disasters. You do not need this problem in your county and we do not
need to produce meat in this way in this country which has prided itself on some of the
highest welfare standards in Europe. Pigs are also very intelligent animals and without being
anthropomorphic we need to respect them.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I strongly urge you to reject this application on environmental grounds. There is very strong
evidence that these intensive units have a devastating impact on the water table. The way
that animals are raised in these units goes against animal welfare issues and encourages the
spread of diseases between animals.
I urge the council to oppose this development as the creation of an anaerobic digestion facility
alters the nature of the waste water leaving the site and will alter the agriculture of the area.
Factory farms are not necessary - it has been proven time and again animals who are
allowed to roam are happier and their meat of better nutritional value to humans. I urge
Derbyshire to take a firm stand and oppose this development.
I was saddened to hear that Midland Pig Producers (MPP) have submitted a further
application (CW9/0311/174) to house 25,000 pigs in intensive factory-farmed conditions,
following the withdrawal of their application (9/2010/0311) in March 2010.
Approval of this application would be extremely environmentally damaging. Farmed animals
are universally acknowledged as being among the primary causes of climate-changing
greenhouse-gas emissions. Other detrimental effects of rearing animals for food include loss
of biodiversity, air and water pollution, habitat destruction and soil degradation.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to voice my objections to the proposal by Midland Pig Producers for a pig farm in
Foston, Derbyshire, near my family home in Rolleston on Dove. My objections are on a
number of grounds, and I trust that they will be taken into account in the planning decision.
Firstly, I would like to point out the environmental impact of the project on the surrounding
area. A farm of this scale would destroy a beautiful and ecologically significant green fields
site, at the same time as threatening pollution of local water supplies, and producing an
unpleasant smell that would spread for miles and be a danger to human health. The noise
from the farm, and from the increased traffic through the area that it would produce, would
negatively affect the lives of the local human and nonhuman population, in this quiet, rural
area where wildlife currently flourishes.
Industrial scale pig farms such as the one proposed for Foston pose a threat to human health
more generally, not simply to the health and quality of life of local people. Conditions at these
farms require the heavy use of antibiotics to control disease, increasing the rate of evolution
of drug- resistant bacteria. This has been proven to increase the spread of potentially fatal
drug-resistant strains of bacteria such as MRSA and E-coli. In the light of this fact, allowing
planning permission for the farm would demonstrate social irresponsibility in the extreme.
Finally, I am aware that planning decisions do not take into account animal welfare, but I
firmly believe that they should. Despite the claims of Midland Pig Producers, I remain
unconvinced that the welfare of such extremely intelligent animals as pigs would be assured
in a farm of 25, 000 animals, where the animals will never see the light of day alive. My
grounds for believing this are the horrific conditions in the American factory farms on which
the Foston development has been modelled.
Allowing the farm to be built despite these objections would show the desire for cheap meat
and financial profit winning out over concern for animal welfare, human health both now and
far into the future, and the local environment. I urge you to consider these serious objections
very carefully when making your decision.
I wish to register my objection to this development, as I believe that there is a potential risk of
pollution to the local area from the proposed industrial pig development at Foston, Derbyshire.
Overviews of my concerns are as follows:
Risk to human health: keeping large numbers of animals near residential dwellings (Foston
prison and the village itself - where the nearest inhabited dwelling is only 20m from the
perimeter) is a potential disease risk to humans. In light of recent swine flu outbreaks and a
recent study that showed that potentially deadly superbugs can be spread by flies from pig
farms to people living miles away this should be of particular concern.
Environmental impact: this farm will not be green, as MPP have suggested. In fact, it is my
understanding that the methane from the pigs themselves will produce over twice as much
carbon equivalent gases as the neighbouring village of Foston itself.
Anaerobic digester: I understand that this is being used to strip the slurry of methane and to
stop smell. However, it is also my understanding that anaerobic digesters can actually be
responsible for producing smells and toxic gases, and in the worst case scenario can be a fire
or explosion risk. Good practice dictates that these should not be built next to residential
areas (especially one of this size) - and to do so would potentially put lives at risk.
Water: the anaerobic digester will also use huge amounts of water - as will the farm itself and would potentially pollute surrounding land. It is my understanding that the Environment
Agency has previously said:
I was horrified to learn that Midland Pig Producers have resubmitted an application
(CW9/0311/174) for an intensive factory farm that would house 25,000 pigs. Pigs on factory
farms are forced to live in unnatural conditions, and mother pigs are treated purely as babymaking machines. Pigs are highly intelligent animals, and living in constant confinement often
drives them insane. For many factory-farmed piglets, the first time they feel sun on their backs
will be when they are loaded onto a truck for slaughter. Pigs are often slaughtered while they
are still conscious in front of other terrified pigs.
Approving an application such as this would have a severely detrimental effect on the
environment. It is now universally recognised that farmed animals around the world are
among the main contributors to the greenhouse-gas emissions that cause climate change.
Raising animals and growing their feed also contribute significantly to other major
environmental problems, including habitat destruction, air and water pollution, soil
degradation and loss of biodiversity.
On a local level, the intensive farm would increase traffic in the area, adding to congestion.
The anaerobic digester, which is used to strip the slurry of methane and stop smells from
escaping, can itself be responsible for producing smells and toxic gases. Furthermore, the
sounds of 1,000 pigs being taken to slaughter each week are likely to be clearly audible to
local residents. A further risk comes from the huge quantities of slurry and wastewater that
would be produced, creating a potential threat to the water supply. If a leak were to occur, it
would pose a substantial risk to human health. Such a facility would also lead to an increase
in CO2 and other greenhouse-gas emissions as a result of farm machinery, transport, lighting,
production of feed, slurry and the transport of animals.
Factory farming contributes to the spread of new diseases, as we have seen with swine flu.
Hans-Gerhard Wagner, a senior officer with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, has
called the intensive industrial farming of livestock an
Dear Committee Members,
Apart from moral and ethical concerns raised by this intensive pig farm application, there are
serious health and safety implications for the farm itself and the wider community.
Such intensive farming leads to increased disease and with it increased use of antibiotics and
other drugs to counter these diseases. We know that antibiotics find their way into the wider
food chain and intensive use of them leads to diseases developing resistance to them; best
practice now is to reduce their use, not increase it.
There are other health and safety concerns regarding the spread of Pig MRSA and C.difficile
'superbug' bacteria through farm animals, and also there is evidence that these can spread to
farm workers, their families and possibly the wider community.
The last thing the UK needs is another farm disease disaster like we saw with foot and mouth.
Intensive farming is by its very nature a more likely source for such a disease outbreak, and
probably one that is resistant to the current arsenal of drugs that could fight it. Why risk it?
One of the reasons I make sure I buy British pork products is because of the higher welfare
standards here as opposed to Europe. Generally I think there is a growing public desire for a
move away from intensive farming -- as seen with the phasing out of battery chicken farming
for example -- rather then towards it.
I sincerely hope this planning application for an intensive pig farm is rejected.
Thank you very much for reading this.
I vehemently oppose the proposed factory pig farm by Midland Pig Producers on account of
the environmental risk to this green field site and the health risks posed to the local
population.
Please register my objection to the proposed Pig farm in Foston due to public health reasons
and animal cruelty.
Dear Sirs,
The Environmental Statement may be designed with the best intentions to persuade planners
and the public that this development differs radically from other intensive pig units. However,
it contains ambiguities that reveal that when it is in production the unit may not in fact be able
to follow the procedures advocated.
The Ambiguities
Welfare:
The proposal refers to the potential elimination of tail docking. If this turns out to be wishful
thinking, they, like most intensive pig farms, will potentially have to routinely tail dock which is
illegal under EU and UK regulations. Tail docking would prevent the pig unit from achieving
the RSPCA Freedom Food Certification the anticipation of which has kept the animal welfare
groups silent.
Human Health Hazards:
The Environmental Statement also describes the sows living conditions. The floor
incorporates an innovative concrete and plastic slatted floor which allows all pig waste to pass
through into the water tanks below. The partially slatted floor system is not an innovation; it is
used by many factory pig farms. The toxic fumes from the faeces and urine in the water tanks
under the slates will no doubt damage workers health. A US report found that 25% of people
working in intensive pig units suffer permanent lung damage. See the report:
Occupational Health Risks for Swine Producers: Inferences for Public Health Risks of People
Living in the Vicinity of Swine Production Units by KJ Donham, University of Iowa.
Environmental Issues
The Slurry Storage Tank: The Environmental Statement says,
The large areas of slurry storage under the buildings together with a further water storage
tank will provide water or slurry storage during months of rainfall Is this the 75 X 25 metre
uncovered tank shown on the plans?
Will this tank contain pig waste? If so it will emit gasses, cause fly infestation which can
spread antibiotic resistant bacteria, and potentially lead to another outbreak of swine flu.
See www.jhsph.edu/water_health/_pdf/AntibioticResistantEntero.pdf
Experience with lined tanks like this in the US has shown that, under the weight of the slurry
water, with age the soil underneath them settles causing sharp rocks to move and puncture
the lining material causing them to leak; thus contaminating the water table with pig waste
and nitrates.
Antibiotics and Gases:
As Midland Pig Producers propose to use bare slats for most of the floor space and wean
piglets at only 3-4 weeks they will need to use preventative antibiotics routinely to keep the
pigs alive in a cocktail of gasses from the biodegrading faeces under the slats.
The result of routine antibiotic use will be antibiotic resistant bacteria diseases that can pass
to humans. This, the WHO says is a, serious concern given the alarming emergence in
humans of bacteria, which have acquired, through this use, resistance to antimicrobials. The
antibiotic bacteria like e-coli, salmonella, campylobacter and the pig strain of MRSA will be
inside the shed and could be spread from the farm itself or its workers, via flies from the
sealed barns and any open tanks can be spread to neighbouring residents via flies and lorries
transporting pigs to slaughter.
Anaerobic Digester:
Although the digester destroys some antibiotic resistant bacteria, research suggests that it is
not hot enough to destroy clostridium difficile which has been found in British pigs and may
pass to humans.
A 2010 report by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute found that although anaerobic
digestion lowers the pathogen load in digestate, there is incomplete kill of some bacterial
pathogens such as salmonella, listeria, E. coli and campylobacter.
The neighbouring Prison:
If, after all there turn out to be the same problems of smell, disease risk and contamination as
there are with almost all other intensive pig farms, the people who will suffer most will be the
inmates of Foston Hall Prison. Their cells and yards are downwind from the prevailing
westerlies, and their windows open towards the slurry and water tank, a likely breeding
ground for flies which a recent US report has found can spread antibiotic resistant
bacteria.(see above)
Earlier this year the British Government was found to be in breach of the European
Convention on Human Rights by denying voting rights to prisoners. Have the prisoners at
Foston been informed of the application, and has the planning committee considered their
views? If the prisoners are denied an input into the process, the council might find itself in
breach of the Convention and liable for damages to prisoners whose rights have been denied
them.
Increased Traffic Problems:
I notice that the plans do not offer solutions to the myriad of other external costs attributed to
giant pig farms. Operating the site could mean 28 HGV movements every weekday, severely
impacting the amenity and house values in the area. The anaerobic digester will require
45,000 tons of additional organic waste (which the developers say will include turkey offal and
chicken manure plus their antibiotic resistant bacteria and odours) to be imported onto the
farm every year, which could account for 8 HGV movements a day, seven days a week.
The Wider Issues
In the UK we have already lost half our pigs to unfair, low welfare competition from intensive
farms, most of which operate illegally in breach of the EC Pig Directive. We are now being
told our small farms must consolidate to compete. Yet, most of our pork needs could be met
by small scale independent farmers from outdoor or deep straw pigs that seldom use
antibiotics and where their waste is a valuable fertiliser to grow their own feed.
The Solution
Rather than supporting a mega farm on green fields, our elected bodies could lobby for a
CAP that shifts the subsidies that Foston will receive for providing renewable energy to
farmers whose benefit the community, local economy, animal welfare and who presently are
not remunerated by the market. Farmers should be paid a fair price at the farm gate.
Councillors could encourage more local production for local consumption via community
supported agriculture schemes and farmers markets where the farmer and consumer get a
fair price, transport is reduced and work in the neighbourhood is revitalised. If pork costs were
to rise, consumers could be advised to eat less meat. This would save their money and
reduce the likelihood of excess meat related diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes
so reduce cost to the National Health Service.
Conclusion
If given permission, the mega-farm at Foston will only accelerate this race to the bottom for
UK smaller scale farms that, in an economy of scale, will be unable to compete. Based on
government figures up to 350 of the smallest pig farms could lose all their sales if the pork
from Foston hits the market.
I totally and utterly oppose this application, there is much, much evidence that very strongly
suggests that farming on this scale is utterly detrimental to the health of both the human
consumers and the animals themselves, and I am alarmed at the fact that it appears you wish
to follow the USA's very flawed production model, and I strongly advise you and hope you will
rethink your planned action for one which is entirely more ethical, both to your consumers and
those being consumed.
This is not the future of farming. It is not sustainable and both the environment and animal
welfare will suffer as a consequence. Surely, will this not see an end to the smaller farm
businesses that are practicing more ethical methods?
I am appalled that an intensive farming system of this kind would be considered when it has
been made so apparent by scientists and environmental experts just how bad this is for all of
us.
Derbyshire is place associated with beautiful countryside and nature; don't let it be the place
that sets precedence for this kind of farming in the UK.
This pig farm cannot happen. Pigs have the same level of intelligence as toddlers and dogs.
You would never treat a human or dog like this, would you?
England is supposed to have the best animal welfare in the world and the fact that this is
being considered is extremely upsetting.
I have created a petition against the building of the proposed Industrial Pig farm in Foston.
The petition has attracted 110 signatures. As you can see the community and indeed many
people outside the community do not want this horrible pig slaughter house. The link for the
petition is:
http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/petition-to-stop-the-proposed-building-of-an-industialpig-factory-farm-in-derbyshire/3097.
Please do not allow this horrible slaughter house to be built.
I would like to object to planning being granted on this application. An indoor pig factory farm
on this scale will cause widespread disease amongst the pigs which could then spread to
humans. Antibiotics will have to be used to control disease which will then go into the food
chain causing the meat to be contaminated. If this goes ahead then I think in years to come it
will be realised that it was a terrible decision but by then it will be too late. Not only that, pigs
should be allowed to live in their natural environment not on a factory farm where they will be
extremely distressed and will suffer unnecessarily. I wonder what sort of world we have
become when we are considering doing this to animals. There is nothing good about factory
farming whatsoever, not for the pigs, not for the local environment and not for people!
I OBJECT- there will be huge amounts of pollution produced, which will need somewhere to
go, not to mention the greenhouse gases produced by these poor pigs, it will look incredibly
ugly, and of course the 25,000 pigs in there will live a miserable life due to no outside access.
I don't want to see massive, US-scale pig factories entering the UK.
I object profoundly to the planning application and would like this to be recognised.
I would like to register my objection to the proposed gigantic pig farm in Derbyshire.
The people of Britain need to become thinner and fitter and for that reason alone, promoting
cheap pig meat is utterly barmy. In addition, the cruelty on these huge farms can be seen very
clearly on the ones that already exist in America. The poisoning of the environment, the
horribleness of life for creatures brought to live in such a filthy, uncivilised, industrial
atmosphere is not something I would have thought intelligent, caring people would ever want
to be involved with.
But even if you don't care about the other creatures on the planet, concern for the health of
people must suggest that cheap meat, produced to minimum health standards favours only
the people who make money out of it. Will the investors eat cheap meat products? Of course
they won't and they won't let their children eat them either. They will simply market them to
the poor or the gullible while buying the free range /organic meat in smaller quantities
(because they almost certainly will follow a healthy diet) for themselves, because they know it
is better.
I'm against a dramatic escalation of industrial pig farming in the UK. I want to stop the
introduction of huge pig factories to the UK as rising pigs on this scale could risk having a
serious impact on human health as well as on welfare of pigs.
I am writing to lodge my objection to the proposed intensive pig farm at Foston. I am objecting
on animal welfare grounds as I to house up to 26,000 pigs on an indoor form will surely
provide complications. It has been proven in the past that these types of farms offer very little
quality of life for the animals imprisoned here. I would be very sad if this planning application
was approved and would be very disappointed.
It is disgusting enough that the US allows factory farms, the most inhuman way to raise
animals for food, please reconsider this plan and refuse to allow such cruelty to continue in
the UK. I am not against animals for food, BUT I am against the abuse and torture these poor
LIVE animals suffer in a factory farm, and at the hands of the workers at those farms.
Disgraceful.
Although it would be wrong to think we don’t already have intensive farming of animals in the
UK, the plans at Foston would be a lurch even further towards American style mega-farming
and all that entails. As we have seen in the US, animals and local people often come a very
distant second to the pursuit of profit. We should be getting rid of factory farming, not
embracing it!
Please refuse planning permission for this pig farm, which would mean a lifetime of suffering
for the pigs. Confining so many pigs to one location will guarantee even greater levels of
disease, infection and injury than already exist on standard factory farms. Intensive farming
also contributes to the spread of disease, including swine flu, to the human population.
Please do not allow such inhumane industrial agriculture to happen in Derbyshire.
I am writing to object to this application on grounds of: possible health risks of this type of
intensive animal rearing adverse affect on the local community - increased traffic, noise etc
negative impact on the countryside ethical objection to animal treatment.
I object in the strongest terms to this planning application. It is totally immoral to treat animals
in this way. We've got to change the way in which we eat and start treating meat as a treat
again, paying more money for our meat, enabling farmers to look after and rear the animals
in an ethical manner.
I object to this planning application.
New scientific evidence shows that the incidence of a number of serious diseases, including
salmonella and MRSA is likely to increase when large numbers of pigs are kept together
indoors as in this proposal at Foston.
Large scale intensive pig factories use more antibiotics and this affects human resistance to
antibiotics as they are passed down the food chain. Resistance to antibiotics is a medical
crisis about to happen.
Regarding animal welfare and despite claims from the owners of the potential development
one thing is clear. Pigs are not meant to be kept inside all the time, away from the natural
environment and in such large numbers. It's intuitive. Britain is moving into more sustainable,
caring and quality food production. This development moves in the opposite direction.
Should this application succeed it will set a precedent for even more, possibly larger
production units. Animals in such numbers lose their individuality and are treated as mass
units of production. This inevitably leads to poor husbandry and sickness. The amount of
waste product of effluent will be considerable and cause a nuisance to people in the local
environment. Please resist those who wish to further intensify production of farm animals on
this scale, you are what you eat and if farm animals are not treated with due care and respect
inevitably humans will suffer too in the longer run. Thank you for allowing people to voice
their concerns.
Please think again about this application. We do not want mega farms in the UK. What will
happen to the countryside? We want to be able to take our children out and show them the
animals grazing in the fields not stuck in some factory.
Please do not allow this application to go ahead. This is not a humane, ethical or sound way
to raise pigs. We should not be allowing, let alone encouraging, companies to farm animals in
this way. These proposals do not consider the welfare of the pigs or their young. It will also
threaten many smaller, independent pig farmers who help to shape our countryside and make
it as beautiful as it is.
I am lodging my objection to this application on the grounds that it would be detrimental to the
appearance of the setting of the wider environment and would be very bad for the ecoenvironment, is an unsustainable way of farming and is a threat to the livelihood of farmers
with smallholdings. It is also very detrimental to the welfare of pigs, is a possible source of
disease to the surrounding communities. It would be a step backwards and I oppose it.
I wish to record my objection to the Midland Pig Producers proposal for a pig factory at Foston
in Derbyshire.
The scale of this factory, with 25,000 pigs kept indoors, is a shameful exploitation of these
animals for human gain and is to the detriment of public health. Like
I would like to register my concern and opposition to this factory farm, on the basis of health
concerns, environmental degradation impacts and animal welfare. Please do not allow more
of these unnatural and exploitative animal factory farms to be set up in the UK.
I understand that traditional farming methods result in more expensive food, but I think it's
better if we, as a society, spend more of our incomes on food and less on medicine,
especially funding the development of new antibiotics to replace the ones we become
resistant to due to their overuse in intensive farming operations such as the one being
proposed.
BIG MISTAKE. Factory farms have overrun and almost annihilated family farms in the US.
They are cruel, abusing animals and land. A very few people get rich, and the costs (stench,
ruined creeks and water table, clean-up at some stage) are born by the public through higher
taxes. Be smarter than we have been.
If approved this will have untold environmental effects on the surrounding area and should not
be allowed.
I am opposing the proposed pig farm. Pig farming accounts for approximately 60% of all UK
farm antibiotic use and research shows that the levels of disease and the use of antibiotics
both increase as pig farms get bigger. Larger herd size is linked with higher levels of many
diseases in pigs, including some that can cause illness in people. For certain bacteria, such
as salmonella and campylobacter, most of the antibiotic resistance in human infections comes
from farm-animal antibiotic use. Resistance to antibiotics can transfer between both animals
and humans and this occurs more frequently, and with far greater ease, than was previously
believed. Very serious new types of antibiotic resistance have developed in recent years and
several of these are increasing in farm animals. C. difficile superbug bacteria which has been
found in hospitals is a growing problem in pigs worldwide, and the latest research shows that
at least one strain of the pathogen is now present in British pigs. There is growing evidence
that C. difficile may be spreading from pig farms to humans through the environment. There is
concern about the risk of Pig MRSA spreading to the UK; it is now well established that
people working with MRSA positive pigs, such as farmers, veterinarians, and even their family
members, are at risk of colonisation and infection - there have also been a number of very
serious cases and deaths. There are real concerns that unless antibiotics are used much
more sparingly we will soon find ourselves facing a range of serious diseases in humans and
animals that can no longer be treated effectively.
I believe that this project ought not to go ahead as it does not appear to hold any ethical
responsibility for the animals involved. I would like to be acknowledged alongside the many
thousands of others who oppose this pig factory on moral objections. We ought to be farming
meat ethically; these are living beings, and intelligent ones at that. I am a meat eater but I do
not endorse the direction this type of farming is taking. I would prefer to pay more for meat
which has been farmed ethically and where the animal lived as natural a life as possible. In
Britain we have some of the best farming standards in Europe. We should be proud of that
and continue showing the rest of Europe (Denmark especially) how it is not only possible but
profitable to produce ethically reared meat.
I am writing to object to the Midland Pig Producers plans to build an industrial sized pig farm
near the village of Foston. Such a large and restrictive arrangement is totally unnecessary.
Please consider the impact that such a 'farm' would have. It’s not the kind of thing that is
going to bring anything good to this area.
I would like to oppose this application on the grounds that it is morally and physically
inhumane and in my opinion totally unnecessary.
I would like to add my comments on the application for planning approval on CW(/0311/174, a
massive pig farm near to the village of Foston. Apart from the moral issue of rearing and
housing such intelligent animals, in what would amount to being concentration camps, it does
not make sense re-the economics of food production and healthy husbandry. In order to feed
the growing numbers of humans, we need to be eating food directly rather than feeding it to
animals; that reveal an end product of very little protein in comparison. Such large numbers of
animals housed together are ripe for the spread of any virus they are prone to, and
consequently, a danger to human health.
There are several small holdings where I live that have pigs. They have plenty of room to
carry out their normal behaviour. They seem happy and unafraid of humans. The pigs cannot
speak for themselves, so it is up to others to speak for them in a system where their lives are
dominated by a more powerful species of beings.
As civilisations in the past have been judged by the way they have treated their own kind, so
we will be judged by the way we treat other species. Animal protein is not necessary to
sustain a healthy human life, it is a lifestyle choice. A lifestyle that can be moderated to have
fewer animal based products, so relieving the suffering of animals.
I am sure you will be studying all aspects of this planning application, but sincerely hope
wisdom and compassion lead you to reject the building of this cruel institution.
If given permission, the mega-farm at Foston will only create a precedent for other similar
facilities throughout the UK, with all the attendant detriment to local environments and to
smaller scale pig farms who, in an economy of scale, will be unable to compete. Based on
government figures up to 350 of the smallest pig farms could lose all their sales if the pork
from Foston hits the market.
Hi there, I am afraid I believe that this proposal amounts to animal cruelty. It isn't natural for
any animal to be kept in confined conditions like this and will seriously harm the UK's
reputation for quality, compassionate farming as well as our animal rights reputation. Please
do not allow this pig farm to be built; I'm afraid I can't see a single good thing about the
application.
I strongly protest to the development of an intensive breeding unit for pigs. Pigs are more
intelligent than dogs and to be confined in this matter would cause them great suffering.
Surely we have come away from this awful factory farming? Pig breeders now rear their
animals in open fields with small arcs for cover against the weather.
This is a far kinder and humane way to breed animals. The pigs are happier and so are the
public knowing that the pigs have a more normal way of life. PLEASE DENY THIS
APPLICATION
I feel I must object to the proposed pig farm at Foston for a variety of reasons that I know
objectors have used before. I would agree with the hygiene objections and also the shame
that the villagers would feel as they host battery farming against their will. The most important
objection to my mind is the very idea of factory farming which I believe is totally unethical and
against the concept of humane farming and animal husbandry in which I believe Britain is a
world leader. Please don't allow this backward step.
One doesn't need to be an animal activist or non meat eater to see that this is immoral. This
sort of unit flies in the face of everything we are told about quality - both quality of life for the
pigs and quality of food for consumers. One of the reasons we buy British is because we can
see how well the pigs look in their outside enclosures. Please respect public and consumer
opinion and refuse to grant permission for this. For the sake of 20 new jobs, there is no
justification for this. I would stop buying British rather than encourage such cruelty and
immorality.
I oppose this application on both animal welfare and human welfare grounds.
Although I live outside the planning area for this application I would like to say that I am firmly
against such large scale pig production units. I spent a few months on a farm in
Aberdeenshire that went in for pig production on a large scale and have seen at first hand
what is involved having toured one of the units with a party of vets who were visiting from
China. We had to remove all our own clothes and dress in paper clothing before entering the
unit so as not to risk bringing in any micro-organisms that could have infected the pigs and
the highly artificial environment in which they live. Once inside I was shocked at the industrial
size of the unit which seemed to stretch into the distance, starting with pens for the boars and
then rows and rows of narrow farrowing pens where the sows gave birth and spent a short
time with their litters before the piglets were removed to multi-tiered units. Like so many
puppies, these adorable little creatures pressed to the front of the cages as we passed curious and keen for interaction.
Sows in such units are treated as production machines (literally) and have no chance to
express themselves as nature intended. Their natural behaviour is completely suppressed
and they can exercise neither body nor mind. For intelligent creatures, living in such units
must be hugely difficult.
As the piglets grew they progressed from the tiered cages to larger pens where one could see
that certain measures had been taken to distract the young pigs from becoming bored and
turning to biting each other. For example, a few old tyres had been hung from beams and
there were some well bitten footballs for them to roll around. But the overall impression was
utterly dispiriting.
I was also disturbed to find out how the animals in such large units are routinely treated with
antibiotics because they are so susceptible to infection.
I am not totally against pigs being reared inside if they are given space, natural light and
freedom to move. I expect your average pig would choose to be inside in the depths of winter
rather than plodging around in belly deep, freezing mud. However I AM against pig
production on an industrial scale and I would strongly recommend that the Council turn down
this application from Midland Pig Producers.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Vastly damaging to the environment, I object to the furthering of the terrible industry of death
that is pig farming: especially on such a industrial scale. The enslavement and murder of
countless lives will follow (or not) according to your decision, please choose according to your
conscience.
I wish to place an objection to this planning application on the following grounds:
The application to build this pig unit seriously compromises the effectiveness of anti-biotic
treatments in the human population in an area where widespread emissions will be
experienced. This situation will lead to a potential 'pandemic' of anti-biotic resistant microorganisms which would compromise the health of residents nearby and also the health of the
greater UK population should an outbreak of some sort become a reality. The reason that this
situation will arise is because of the enclosed and confined 'high population density' unit
operation. When agricultural livestock are confined in such close proximity and enclosed
without the ability to move far then the livestock become stressed. This is a highly recognised
factor in the generation of health problems in both humans and animals. A happy animal is
generally more capable of resisting infections easily. However the close affiliation of animals
in a stressful environment will lead to more infections. Once the use of anti-biotic is
commenced then it will have to be continued forever as the pigs will be susceptible to reinfection once the current treatment has been completed as their inherent resistance to
infections will have also been removed by the anti-bio tics administered. This leads to an
increase in the pig unit environment of opportunities where bacteria can develop resistance to
anti-bio tics. Warmth, humidity and of course plenty of practice at evolving resistance to the
drugs used. All a bacterial infection needs to survive. The next step is infections transferring
to the human populations via the airborne aerosols transported on the breeze. This is how
species of this sort travel in the wild. There are numerous other vectors open to the infections
like the ground water supply, especially after heavy rain, dust particulates blowing off yards
during extensive dry spells and of course from vehicles travelling to and from the unit.
I therefore feel that the company applying for permission for this unit have not presented a
very robust or fully considered application and this lack of consideration reflects badly upon
their professionalism with regards the health and welfare of the pigs they intend to breed and
rear nor the health and welfare of their immediate neighbours and the greater population of
the UK.
Additionally the health and welfare of the pigs (and all farming livestock) is of equally great
concern to me and my family. For too many years the welfare of farm animals has become
severely degraded in the race for greater profitability. This should not be the driving factor
behind any farming development where livestock are involved.
The restricted quality of life for the pigs and the extra burden on natural resources (water and
waste recycling) that the local community also rely upon) do not equate to a sensible
application of business interests. Again it is profit being put before reasonable expectations of
animal and local human populations’ welfare and continued welfare of the greater community
and national populous. There is also the impact upon the local natural environment. In units
like this there are vermin, birds and other frequent wildlife visitors. These are all likely to
spread any infections that prevail in the unit to other populations of wildlife which in turn lead
to even greater spread of infections. No management plan has demonstrated a completely
100% safe and invasion proof setup. It only takes one vector, one visit to transport an
infection that can lead to cataclysmic repercussions. Take the recent outbreak of food
poisoning in Germany as an example. People died because of one infection vector.
I would also like to object additionally to the likelihood of increased traffic volumes serving the
pig unit on a regular basis. Feed deliveries, visitors to the unit (vets, maintenance contractors,
ministry officials, RSPCA inspectors etc) hauliers removing the pigs for slaughter, hauliers
removing the carcasses for safe disposal, hauliers collecting waste and other by-products
from the site as well as deliveries of fuel and other consumable commodities as required to
run the unit. The area is not set up to deal with the extra logistical demands placed upon it.
There is also the issue of highways maintenance which will fall to the council highways
department to pay for. At a time when costs are being cut the last thing anyone needs is
additional unexpected expenditure. The council should be objecting to this proposed
development as it will severely stress the infrastructure beyond its design capabilities and the
bill will land very firmly upon the electorates council tax demands. Not good for re-election
hopes.
Finally the cost to the local farming community of a super pig unit will seriously affect local
producers’ business hopes. The net effect upon the UK market of such greedy facilities is
already well understood. Diversity of production in sustainable and environmentally beneficial
ways is and should be the way forward. Not to house livestock indoors in confined conditions
without access to the very basic contact with the earth or the elements. This is not only a bad
method of commerce but a highly suspect way to conduct business.
I personally do not believe that the full planning application covers all the aspects of a
sustainable pig breeding unit or of a pig rearing unit. It is akin to a concentration camp without
windows or fresh air. Not an acceptable advert for a nation of animal loving humans.
I trust that the above points will be considered on their merits.
I object to this application.
We need to be out door rearing pigs.
If we need to raise the price of pork, so be it.
Don't let Derbyshire be the county that has this blot on our name - let us be forward thinking
and make the right decisions for animal welfare.