A CONTROVERSIAL plan to double the size of a piggery on a farm has been given the green light by the council despite hundreds of neighbours complaining about the bad smell.

Daniels Farm in Vicarage Lane in Claines will now be allowed to double the size of its 1,000-strong piggery after Wychavon District Council's planning committee backed the plans.

The large piggery at Daniels Farm – owned by North Claines parish councillor Peter Philips – was installed last year.

A petition against the farm's plan had gathered more than 1,100 signatures and more than 110 comments were submitted against the plan – the majority of which were objections.

The council had received at least 14 minutes worth of objections to the application and when a plea to consolidate the objections was rejected, only five minutes worth were read out by officers at a planning meeting on Thursday (July 23).

Cllr Tony Miller, who had faced criticism from some of the objectors who accused the Lovett and North Claines councillor of bias towards the farm owner and parish councillor, said he had made sure decisions were transparent and ensured the planning committee would decide on the plan after it was first proposed to be made by council officers.

Cllr Miller said he could not find a reason for the plan to be turned down but abstained from voting.

Councillors had debated whether to add a condition forcing farm deliveries to take place early in the morning after concerns were raised about school traffic but it was dropped after planning officers said it would be unenforceable.

Cllr Tony Rowley said he had some concerns when the plan first came forward but had been reassured by planning officers and Worcestershire Regulatory Services in the report.

He said even if the condition for delivery times was unenforceable he would still like to see it added to at least try and address the concerns.

Several complaints were made last year against the "disgusting" smell from the farm which were investigated by the council.

Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), the body responsible for odour control in the county, said its officers had visited the farm last year and found "nothing unusual" and normal practices were being followed.

Residents in Claines said complaints had continued to be made against the “offensive” smell and the effect it was having on children at the nearby schools.

The plan was approved by ten votes to two with three abstentions.