A CONTROVERSIAL proposal for an abattoir in Ecclefechan could get the go-ahead next week.
It’s due to be heard on Wednesday by members of the council’s planning committee.
And officials are recommending that they pass it.
Pickstock Telford Ltd are behind the application for a beef processing plant on land adjoining the B7076 on the edge of the village.
They are a supplier of British beef to the UK and EU food
marketplace and plan to operate the 4451 square metre facility five days a week, processing up to 250 cattle each day.
The development would create 60 full time jobs on the process line and also in engineering, support, IT, administration and cleaning.
A report has been put together for councillors and in it, planning case officer Graham Smith explained the scheme would be done in two phases. Firstly, detail permission is being sought for the construction of a beef processing plant including an effluent treatment plant enabling wastewater to be treated on site and an anaerobic digester plant generating biogas from waste process material.
Phase two relates to the remaining six plots on the site and is speculative seeking permission to establish business and industrial land use. However, there are no more details on what exactly that could mean.
The firm has held a series of public consultation events in Ecclefechan but some residents are still concerned and ten objections have been lodged against it.
Their main concerns focus on flood risk; the impact on the nearby park with regards distressing sights, sounds and smells; noise pollution; increased traffic and congestion; unpleasant odours; diminishing quality of life for local residents; damage to the ecosystem and agriculture; adverse landscape and visual impact; too close to the village; and local water supply constraints.
They have also raised fears it would undermine the community’s tranquil characteristics adding an industrial character; and that corporate business interests are overriding the concerns of the area.
In addition, it’s claimed there has been insufficient information shared by the company; that there has not been proper scrutiny; and that many people locally are still unaware of it.
Scottish Power has also objected due to the presence of an overhead line and on the basis that the development may affect the operation and maintenance of transmission infrastructure.
Addressing the objections, Mr Smith said: “The most obvious potential impacts on the nearest residents would be noise and odour from the operations of the beef processing plant albeit, as the supporting information has demonstrated, the distance of the development from the nearest residences is considerable.
“Whilst the site is within the Ecclefechan settlement boundary, it is relatively remote from the built up area. The proximity to the trunk road and adjoining land uses means that there is already a level of ambient background noise and activity at this location.
“In terms of odour, a survey from a suitably qualified professional has demonstrated that odour will not be significant in normal circumstances and there will be a range of methods at the applicant’s disposal to prevent any adverse odour from occurring in exceptional circumstances.”
He noted that the proposal accords with the local development plan and said: “Those detailed aspects such as the beef processing facility have been carefully considered and the consultation process has not resulted in any significant objections from the relevant consultees.
“The material planning matters raised in the objections have been considered but they are not considered to be of sufficient weight.
“A satisfactory level of supporting information is considered to have been submitted which has allowed officers to conclude that the development would integrate in a successful way.”
The final decision will be made by committee members.
If approved, Pickstock will get three years to start developing the site.
