Attempts to establish US mega-style industrial food production in the UK continues. The latest to be kicked back is an industrial sized pig farm in South Derbyshire.

Midland Pig Producers are seeking permission to build a farm that would house up to 25,000 animals. At a public meeting members of the planning committee voted  by a majority not to support the scheme.

The planning application has attracted huge opposition with 13,000 objections and and 10,000 signatories to an online national petition – as well as criticism from celebrity opponents.

Campaign groups including the Soil Association and Friends of the Earth have warned it will herald the beginning of bigger factory farming projects in the pig, poultry and dairy sector.

The protest group Pig Business said it was “delighted” that councillors had listened to constituents: “We hope that the county council will follow their recommendation and refuse to open the floodgates to mega pig-farming in the UK.

A spokesperson for Midland Pig Producers told the Guardian: “Disappointingly, in making their decision, members of the planning committee decided to ignore the recommendation of the professional planning officers. The report considered by the planning committee recommended no objection. However, the final decision is not the gift of SDDC.”

She went on: “The SDDC’s decision will of course be included in Derbyshire county council’s deliberations, but the final outcome is not dependent on one, albeit important, consultee. We are aware that a handful of local people are opposing the plans, but the vast majority of those objecting are not local residents. As we have pointed out previously, we have never expected to have the support of those activists who do not eat meat.”

Photo thanks to PugFather on Flickr

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