A SPOKESMAN for a farmer proposing to put a chicken farm near one of Dorset's best-loved beauty spots has defended his choice of site.

The scheme at Farrington near Blandford would house 24,000 chickens in a massive barn, clearly visible from Hambledon Hill.

A building 152 metres long, 20 metres wide and five metres high will sit in the middle of a field which would be used as a chicken run, if the scheme goes ahead.

The whole field is to be surrounded by a 1.8 metre fence and an articulated lorry will visit every three days.

Edward Dyke, agent for applicant Mark Mogridge, said it was the ideal place for a chicken farm and said it is just the sort of enterprise encouraged by the Government.

He said: "It's perfect land for poultry. It's free range chicken production not an intensive battery farm.

"The chickens will be located in the centre of the field to meet the requirements of all the rules and regulations for them to be happy, free chickens.

"This is an agricultural area and this is an agricultural initiative - nothing sinister.

"They get this vision of big sheds, masses of chickens, beaks clipped but this is not what is proposed."

Mr Dyke added that there was already a contract with a major wholesaler.

But some angry residents say the roads are far too narrow and are not coping with the heavy goods traffic now.

They claim there would be 24-hour "light pollution", smells and vermin would be attracted to the site.

Some are worried about the possible poisoning of the water-courses from chemicals, including arsenic, used for parasite control.

Nearly every objection mentions the visual impact on the nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - especially on the view from Hambledon.

Farrington resident Tina Doble wrote: "I am all for farmers farming in the Blackmore Vale but to me it seems we are losing too many 'proper' farms and these vast chicken concerns are changing the whole look of the area."

Child Okeford Parish Council has recommended refusal for the plans.

A letter from the council added that such operations were often short-lived, citing the case of two redundant chicken farms in Child Okeford.

First published: August 31