PERMISSION to build a 50 metre chimney on Lancaster's Nightingale Hall Farm was granted this week. The decision by a government inspector overturns a city council judgment refusing the go-ahead last year.

Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson has pledged to fight to overturn the decision and has already written to the deputy prime minister John Prescott and described the report as "an appalling insult to Lancaster."

He also revealed that the animal waste company told him they plan to leave the city and were investigating how they could do this. The planning inspector, who responded to an appeal by Fats and Proteins, argued that the chimney wouldn't destroy the skyline and would effectively disperse the notorious smell.

The inspector also thought that the city council should have no control into what goes on in the new construction which would be built in proximity to the Ashton Memorial. That means Fats & Proteins could use it to incinerate animals, although this is thought unlikely to happen in the immediate future.

His report maintained the chimney would hardly be visible from distant northern viewpoints with the impressive memorial a "dominant feature" and would be of positive benefit overall."

But the findings were challenged by Cllr Ian Barker of the badly affected Bulk Ward. He explained how planning chiefs had arrived at their decision. "We had no confidence the chimney would help disperse odours and felt it would be a blot on the landscape so close to the memorial.

"Even more worrying is his decision to allow no control on what goes on inside it the new building. It would be totally unacceptable if it was used to expand operations or diversify into incineration. The inspector acknowledges there's other methods of controlling this but he doesn't specify what they are."

Resident and member of ABSEIL (Anti BSE In Lancaster) Sue Paylor was furious. "In certain weather conditions the smoke turns to ground anyway.

The only difference is it will affect larger areas of the district. Apart from that the chimney will be a complete eyesore."

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