Dickson supports Newtownabbey pig farm objectors

Pigs who are photographed on one of farms

East Antrim MLA, Stewart Dickson, attended the Reahill Road, Newtownabbey, Pig Farm Pre-Determination Meeting on Thursday night at Antrim & Newtownabbey Council to support the objectors in their bid to prevent the construction of the massive structure in the South Antrim countryside.

Mr Dickson said: “I was in the process of citing issues of pollution and building mass and was one minute and fifteen seconds into my presentation when the Planning Committee Chairman called time on the objectors.

“Had I been afforded the courtesy of the Chairman’s prerogative I would have covered issues such as constituents’ concerns, the reliability of statistics, foul water run-off, proximity to rural residential properties, built up conurbations, visual impact and notification protocols.

“I believe the proposed site is far too close to built-up areas, especially some rural private dwellings, Glengormley, Newtownabbey and Greenisland. In particular Greenisland and the Ulster University will, I believe, despite assurances from the developer of odour control, suffer very badly from the smell and odour the spreading of animal waste will create.

“I hope those councillors on the Planning Committee of Antrim & Newtownabbey will make a reasoned and balanced decision to reject the application and by doing so mitigate the negative impacts of this carbuncle in the countryside,” he added.