Factory Farming Planning Application Objection Letter
If a factory farm has been proposed in your local area, you have a right to raise your concerns. We've created a template letter that you can copy, paste, and personalise to send to your local council or planning authority. This letter highlights some of the key issues associated with factory farming – including environmental damage, public health risks, traffic disruption, and animal cruelty. Please adapt it as needed to reflect your specific concerns and the details of the proposal in your area.
[Recipient's Name]
[Recipient's Position]
[Local Authority/Agency Name]
[Address]
[City, Postcode]
[Date]
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
Subject: Planning Application Objection REF: [Factory Farm Name/Proposal Number]
I am writing to object to the planning application for the proposed factory farm at [Site Address/Location]. As a local resident, I believe it is important to address several issues related to this proposal that could affect our environment, community health, and animal welfare.
1. Environmental Impact:
Factory farming relies on fossil fuel energy for many things: making chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and controlling temperature, lighting, and ventilation in large industrial facilities where animals are kept. These energy costs have increased in recent years. Running the farm also requires significant energy. Please consider the impact of this proposed farm on local utilities, which may be overwhelmed by a site this large, likely needing extra substations to handle the load.
The environmental quality of the local area will be severely impacted. With the capacity to house [Number of chickens] and/or [Number of pigs] at any one time, there will be huge amounts of manure produced. Strong and unpleasant odours such as ammonia arise from this manure which prevailing winds can carry some distance across fields and into residential areas, which could result in complaints from affected members of the public.
Poor storage and use of manures, slurries, and chemical fertilizers on fields release nitrates and phosphorus, which pollute rivers and streams. The runoff causes algae to grow excessively in downstream waterways and seas, using up all the oxygen. This can create "dead zones," where the lack of oxygen leads to the collapse of aquatic ecosystems and harms surrounding habitats.
2. Public Health Risks:
The proximity of this factory farm to residential areas could pose several public health risks due to the release of pollutants like ammonia, dust, and particles from manure and feed, which have been found to harm air quality and cause asthma, bronchitis, and other breathing issues.
Factory farms often rely heavily on antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in animals. This widespread use can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which can then spread to humans in several ways. First, they may contaminate the food supply, especially if meat or other animal products are not properly cooked or handled. Second, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can also enter the environment through waste runoff or improper disposal of animal waste, affecting water sources and soil. As a result, infections caused by these resistant bacteria become increasingly difficult to treat, leading to longer illness duration and a greater risk of severe health outcomes.
3. Increased Traffic:
The proposed factory farm would likely cause a significant increase in traffic due to the need to transport large quantities of feed, livestock, and manure. This influx of heavy vehicles may lead to road congestion and potential damage to local roads. Additionally, the increased presence of large vehicles on our roads raises the risk of accidents, especially in an area not designed to handle such heavy loads, making both residents and drivers vulnerable.
4. Animal Welfare
[Choose the paragraph based on the relevant animal and remove the non-relevant text]
[Chickens]
The proposed factory farm will confine [Number of chickens], giving them little room to turn around or lie down fully. In such cramped, stressful conditions, these birds will be unable to follow their natural instincts like dustbathing, perching, or interacting comfortably. This can cause injuries and behavioural issues, like aggression, feather pecking, or even cannibalism. Stress weakens their immune systems, making them more prone to illness.
These farming practices will not acknowledge the sentience and welfare of animals and create significant health and environmental impacts
[Pigs]
The proposed factory farm has to capacity to house [Number of pigs]. It will be virtually impossible for these animals to have enough room to move or turn around. This highly stressful environment will also make it impossible for them to fulfil their hardwired instincts to forage, build nests, and interact with one another in comfort. This can lead to injuries, and severe behavioural issues. These can include aggression or repetitive behaviour like tail biting, cage biting or chewing continuously on nothing until frothing at the mouth. Stress depresses the immune system and makes animals more prone to infections.
These farming practices will not acknowledge the sentience and welfare of animals and create significant health and environmental impacts.
In light of these concerns, I urge you to consider these issues carefully. It is vital that the interests of the local community and the environment are adequately protected.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]