A POULTRY processing plant near Wrexham has resubmitted plans to increase its weekly output to up to one million chickens.

Maelor Foods, based on the former First Milk site, has lodged a second application with Wrexham Council to vary a planning condition to change the number of birds it processes at its Cross Lanes facility from 400,000 to one million per week.

It is a move the company hopes will unlock significant investment and create 80 new jobs on site and significantly more in the wider supply chain.

Its first application was turned down by councillors in October on highway safety grounds, despite backing of council planning and highways officers who acknowledged there would be an overall reduction of 117 vehicle movements per day compared to when First Milk and a former transport firm operated there. Officers have raised no objection to the new application.

The meeting heard concerns from local residents about odour control from the site, which falls under the remit and control of Natural Resource Wales (NRW).

In its latest report to the council, NRW said Maelor Foods has “significantly reduced the potential for odour emissions and is operating in compliance with its Environmental Permit and in accordance with best available techniques for odour control.”

The £20m facility opened in 2017, currently employs 120 people and supports a supply chain of businesses in the local area which they claim will benefit from the increase in processing on site.

Managing director Raj Mehta said the firm had gone to great lengths to address the issues raised during its first application.

He said: “We have a formal agreement with highways officers for a comprehensive programme of road improvements including widening of the A525/Pickhill Lane junction should permission be granted.

“There will be substantially fewer vehicle movements than there were historically and officers have not objected to our application.

“We acknowledge there were teething issues with odour control but we have worked with industry specific consultants and experts to rectify this and made extensive improvements to our processes and equipment. The site is regularly monitored and all complaints are logged and reported accordingly. NRW has fully investigated past complaints, whether substantiated or not, and is satisfied we are meeting our permit requirements.”

Maelor Foods already has an Environmental Permit from NRW to process up to one million birds per week. It is limited to 400,000 by the planning conditions it is applying to have amended.

Mr Mehta said the firm was keen for an open dialogue with the community.

He added: “We distributed some 700 leaflets around Cross Lanes, Marchwiel and Bangor on Dee inviting people to a public meeting in December so they could talk to us face-to-face. It was attended by 30 people.

“We offered councillors from the planning committee a fact finding tour but the view was taken that this may affect their impartiality and it was declined. We were allowed to attend a meeting of Sesswick Community Council but weren’t permitted to explain the positive actions we have taken.”

Mr Mehta added: “A letter containing some inaccurate, and therefore damaging, facts about our business has been circulated to encourage people to object and we’re keen people have all the information before making up their minds. Our plans could bring a major economic and jobs boost to Wrexham and it would be disappointing if the area missed out due to some misleading facts being banded about.”

Maelor’s application is supported by a number of businesses that have outlined the positive impact an increase in processing at the site will have.

One is Steve Thomson, director of Lloyds Animal Feeds Ltd, which is spending in excess of £1m on its Wrexham feedmill to ensure it can meet help the needs of businesses supplying into this growing food sector.