COUNCILLORS have approved plans for an upgraded piggery in a village despite nearby residents telling them the smells and manure from the animals would damage their quality of life.

Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee backed the new buildings at Silk Hall Farm, Tockholes Road, Tockholes

Owner Mark Navesey had applied to demolish his existing pig sheds, relocate an existing farrowing unit, and erect a new agricultural livestock building with a straw bedding container.

A planning officer's report said: "The applicants overall land ownership comprises a residential use, a long established commercial engineering use and an agricultural holding.

"The proposed building would sit within the agricultural land holding which amounts to approximately one acre of the total land ownership adjoining the western boundary of the engineering yard.

"A small scale pig farming enterprise currently operates from the site, comprising a number of sheds and a farrowing pen which are used for the rearing of young pigs, an outdoor area dedicated for finishing as well as two pig arcs which house breeding sows.

"The site also accommodates an egg laying facility. Hens are housed within an existing shed.

"Up to 80 production pigs will be kept on site, together with a boar and eight breeding sows, in order to generate a steady flow of new stock.

"The proposed building effectively consolidates the pig farming activity to within purpose built accommodation and its immediate surroundings, including a separate farrowing unit.

"That the activity currently exists from within an uncontrolled environment, including from within dilapidated sheds, is an important material consideration, notwithstanding a proposed increase in pig

numbers."

Objectors Barbara Crook of nearby Silk Hall Cottage and Elaine Burrow of Rose Cottage addressed the meeting to complain of the smells and manure waste the new piggery would generate close to their homes.

Mrs Crook told councillors: "Mr Navesey is not a farmer and Silk Hall Farm is not a farm it is a terraced house. He is an engineer. Pig keeping is not his primary employment.

"Would you want to live 20 yards from a pig farm?"

Mrs Burrow said: "I am concerned about the smell and waste the proposal would create."

The council's planning manager Gavin Prescott confirmed to committee chairman and local Darwen West councillor Dave Smith that Mr Navesey could still keep 80 pigs in his existing sheds.

The committee approved the application with 12 conditions including a comprehensive plan covering all aspects of odour including measures for effective manure storage and removal.