PLANS by a meat processing firm to expand an abattoir where thousands of pigs are slaughtered every day have been opposed by more than 1,900 people.
Pilgrim’s Pride has applied to South Gloucestershire Council for planning permission to build new facilities at its Pilgrim’s Europe slaughterhouse at Oakley Green Farm, Westerleigh, on the opposite side of the M4 to Lyde Green.
The company says the work will “upgrade and expand” the livestock processing facility, adding: “The proposals aim to improve operational efficiency, enhance environmental performance, and provide modern infrastructure in support of the site’s existing lawful use.”
An odour assessment report by consultants Redmore Environmental submitted with the application says work would “increase the processing capacity of the facility from 19,000 to 25,000 pigs per day”.
It says pigs will be delivered to the site between 5am and 5pm daily, with activities on site ranging from “dispatch” and butchery to chilling of products, freezing and packaging.
The changes planned include a new chill store for meat, a “bone trailer” and waste storage, new lorry park, lorry wash and private access road off Oakleigh Green Farm Lane, chemical and effluent storage and a security cabin at the site entrance.
Pilgrim’s Europe is one of the UK’s biggest food companies, producing chicken, pork and lamb for a variety of brands including Richmond sausages.
The abattoir at Westerleigh has been the subject of a long-running protests by animal rights campaigners (pictured above), who believe the method used to stun the pigs before slaughter, using carbon dioxide gas, is cruel and that the animals suffer “immense distress” during transportation to the plant in trucks.
The protests, which take place every other Monday morning outside the plant and on nearby Westerleigh Road, are coordinated by the Bristol Animal Rights Collective, and also involve members of other groups, including Bristol Animal Save and We The Free.
Company is a ‘major employer’
A report by planning agents Trundley Design Services said planning permission for the abattoir dates back to the 1970s.
They said: “Pilgrim’s Pride is a major employer in the local area, providing skilled and unskilled jobs in food processing, logistics, and associated roles.
“The facility plays a key role in the UK’s meat production and distribution network and contributes to national food security.
“The proposals support local employment by upgrading existing facilities, improving working conditions and safeguarding jobs for the long term.
“There are no residential dwellings immediately adjacent to the site that would be negatively impacted by the development in terms of noise, odour, or visual effect.”
However people who live near the plant have lodged objections on the council’s planning website, saying they are plagued by “disgusting” smells from the plant – and also raised concerns about pollution of waterways and from an increase in traffic.
‘Disgusting stench’ from plant
By December 31, a total of 1,920 people had written to object, most citing smell, noise, traffic and pollution grounds, as well as some objecting over animal rights.
Tom Goble, who lives nearby said: “Currently the smell can be horrible. When I go running down by the railway crossing on Oakley Green Farm Lane the smell can be overwhelming and lead me to wretch.
“Villagers regularly complain of the smell, and it features often on our village WhatsApp group. A group of locals have visited the abattoir and the smell on site is quite disgusting.”
He said an investigation had found the plant was breaching environmental regulations on smells.
Alan Price told the council he had lived in Westerleigh for 63 years and said his home was often plagued by a “disgusting stench”, adding: “Westerleigh is known by many as ‘The Smelly Village’.”
Lydia Jefferies said: “If this goes ahead this would inevitably mean a substantial rise in heavy goods vehicle movements, worsening congestion on already stretched rural roads and increasing the risk of accidents for residents, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Emily Mills said: “There are also concerns around the increased volume of animal by-products and waste generated by a larger facility, and the risk this poses to the local environment if disposal or handling fails.”
A total of 37 people had written in support, including farmer Angharad Seabury, who said: “With the number of smaller abattoirs closing, we as farmers need reliable outlets to sell our livestock to.”
The plans can be seen on the planning section of South Gloucestershire Council’s website by searching for application P25/02416/F.
The council is accepting comments until January 5.
Picture: Animal rights campaigners protest outside the Pilgrim’s Europe slaughterhouse at Westerleigh earlier this year.