AN APPEAL has been launched after plans to boost a poultry plant’s production limit to a million chickens a week were refused.

Councillors in Wrexham rejected the proposals by Maelor Foods in Cross Lanes at a meeting in October because of concerns about the smell and traffic generated by the factory.

Parent company Salisbury Poultry said upping the current restriction of 400,000 birds per week would enable it to create 200 new jobs. But community leaders said neighbours were unable to have their windows open during the summer because of ‘noxious odours’.

The firm has now launched an appeal against the decision, stating that it had experienced ‘significant growth’ since the original limit was imposed.

“When the applications were submitted the operator was processing circa 700,000 birds per week,” it said. “This means the Maelor facility only having slaughtering approval of 400,000 birds per week leaves a significant shortfall of supply of slaughtered birds to the business. Maelor Foods will need to address this issue and to facilitate the required increase in numbers of birds that will need to be processed each week they are left with no choice but to seek to remove the limiting planning condition on the facility.

“Removal of the planning condition will enable the operator to take account of the significant growth of the business and the potential of retail customers.”

Wrexham Council’s head of planning Lawrence Isted had originally backed the proposals for approval. His recommendation was ignored though after local councillor John Pritchard highlighted a list of 12 complaints about the site since it opened in November 2017.

He said: “Natural Resources Wales and our own department have confirmed there is a problem at the site and we all appreciate their work in proving this point.

“This is only with 400,000 chickens, so what is it going to be like with one million?”

In response, Maelor Foods said it had already delivered an investment of £20 million into the county, and the latest plans would bring a wider range of job opportunities on top of the 550 existing roles at the site.

It added that it had been working to address the problems raised.

It said: “The main area of concern would appear to centre on odour.

“The site operator acknowledges there have been substantiated complaints within this first 12-month period, but are of the view that all complaints have been addressed in an efficient and satisfactory manner.

“As the site enters its second year of operation, appropriate upgrades have been undertaken and management systems put in place to ensure any associated environmental impacts are well below accepted tolerance levels.

“With the opportunity presented to secure a net reduction in the potential cumulative number of HGV movements along Pickhill Lane, there will be an overall improvement to the standard of amenity afforded to the occupiers of nearby properties.”

The appeal will be heard by the Planning Inspectorate at a future date.