Abattoir expansion plans "disrupting our village" on "industrial scale"

Arley's abattoir expansion has drawn substantial backlash from Coventry Live readers, who have lodged more than 300 objections with North Warwickshire Borough Council. They claim the slaughterhouse has undergone a big change - no longer a small, family-owned affair, but an industrial-scale operation causing havoc in the village with foul smells and disruptive traffic.

An agent representing T&S Abattoir Ltd, which manages the facility, has submitted a retrospective planning application to the local council for approval of expansion works already carried out. Residents have voiced concerns, claiming the abattoir has grown from 'small, family run' under previous ownership to an 'industrial scale' operation.

Severn Trent has intervened at the site after anxieties were raised about 'discharges' that posed a possible risk to nearby watercourses; however, the company has confirmed the issues are now rectified. "The waste is the tip of the iceberg", a local resident claimed. The abattoir currently operates under a licence from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which, according to local statements, is investigating the matter.

Read more: Roadworks for forthcoming week

Reader Li10 said: "Coming from a family who have lived in the village all their lives, this abattoir has completely changed from previous owners. From a family run butchers/ abattoir where you could buy local produce from local farmers to an industrial level output supplying businesses miles away."

"This is on a completely different scale and disrupting our small village immensely, from the smell of sheep carcasses, sometimes not collected for a couple of days or so, to the size of the HGVs trying to manoeuvre three point turns on the small lane, to the length of hours they are working. We are now unable to enjoy our outside space and are suffering with the smells inside our homes. This cannot be fair and cannot go on."

Commenter Olddj58 wrote: "It's easy for people to dismiss and even joke about the situation residents are having to go through on an almost daily basis. However it's no laughing matter. Besides the increase in HGVs coming at all hours of the day and night, there are the smells coming from the premises directly affecting people living in the area."

"When you get told by your daughter that she isn't prepared to visit us with our grandchildren if it's smelling, it's such a strong statement. So the council needs to act accordingly."

Jaycl questioned: "It's on a whole other scale! I have lived here for 11 years and have never experienced such horrendous smells and dangerous traffic obstructions. The previous owners would have a very subtle delivery of a trailer load of animals, usually being towed by a land rover once per week. The new owner has 3 storey high HGV vehicles full of sheep being delivered from around 6am up until 11pm three times per day!"

"This business is most certainly operating on an industrial scale in a small rural village with roads not wide enough to accommodate it. This business needs stopping and moving to and industrial estate where neighbouring houses won't be affected by the horrendous smells, noise pollution, and traffic."

Shifty2 added: "It's simply awful and the wheels of power move very slow... Can't sit out as it pongs, can't walk the dog."

Ermintrude99 said: "NWBC need to look very carefully at, and robustly test/challenge the statements made by the applicant when reviewing the planning application and design and access statement. At best these are disingenuous, and at worst, deliberately misleading and a cynical attempt to circumvent and undermine the planning process."

Mimismummy said: "The new owner met with residents and promised to act on their concerns. 3 months later it's actually worse. The smell in the village is of rotting flesh and it's disgusting. Much worse now the sun's out too. The lorries block up the lane, the animals a squashed into pens until they're killed. Piles of remains like fleeces and feet are stored in open skips. It's like a nightmare."

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