03/04/2025 - Angling Trust urges West Berkshire Council to reject intensive poultry unit near River Kennet
The Angling Trust and Fish Legal have objected to a planning application submitted to West Berkshire Council, which proposes the construction of a large-scale poultry unit at Bradfords Farm, Borehole, Halfway, Newbury.
The application seeks permission to house 32,000 chickens, nearly three times the number currently accommodated in mobile units, in an area located within the floodplain of the River Kennet – a highly sensitive Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Angling Trust and Fish Legal, have raised serious concerns about the risks of nutrient pollution, including nitrates, phosphates, and ammonia, leaching into the river and its surrounding groundwater. This increase in agricultural runoff threatens to further degrade the ecological health of the Middle Kennet, which was downgraded to ‘Poor’ status in 2022 under the Water Framework Directive, with diffuse pollution from agriculture cited as a key contributing factor.
A Threat to a Globally Rare Chalk Stream
The River Kennet is one of the UK’s precious chalk streams, supporting a unique and fragile ecosystem that is already under pressure from pollution and habitat degradation. The proposed site is just 900 metres from the river, and given its location within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, the likelihood of additional nutrient runoff contaminating the watercourse is extremely high.
“The intensification of poultry farming in this sensitive area poses an unacceptable risk to one of the country’s most treasured chalk streams,” said Martin Salter, Head of Policy at the Angling Trust.
“The Kennet is already struggling under the weight of agricultural pollution, and this proposal would only make matters worse. We urge West Berkshire Council to reject this application and prevent further harm to this vital waterway.”
Legal and Environmental Precedents
The concerns are echoed by leading environmental organisations and member clubs such as the Newbury Angling Association, Reading and District Angling Association and the Civil Service Angling Society, represented by Fish Legal. A recent High Court ruling has classified chicken manure as ‘industrial waste’ due to its high toxicity, underscoring the need for rigorous environmental scrutiny when considering applications like this.
Natural England and the Environment Agency have a statutory duty to protect the River Kennet and Lambourn SSSI. Furthermore, planning authorities have been advised that the deteriorating water quality of protected sites must be a key consideration in determining applications that may introduce additional phosphates into a catchment area.
Call to Action
The Angling Trust, Fish Legal, along with their member clubs and anglers, call on West Berkshire Council to uphold its environmental responsibilities by refusing this application. The potential for nutrient pollution, habitat degradation, and long-term damage to a critical freshwater ecosystem far outweighs any perceived economic benefits of the proposed development.
“We cannot afford to let short-term agricultural intensification jeopardise the long-term health of our rivers,” added Salter. “This application sets a dangerous precedent for further intensive poultry farming in the Kennet Valley, and the Angling Trust will continue to fight for the protection of our waterways.”
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