PLANS for a chicken farm in a Golden Valley village created a stink when the scheme was opposed by the local parish council.

Bad smells were cited as one reason for not backing John Morgan’s bid to build two broiler sheds at Bage Court in Dorstone.

Dorstone Parish Council voted by a narrow majority of 4-3 against giving their backing to the application during a meeting on Tuesday attended by about 70 people.

Chairman Colin Thomas said concerns included an adverse affect on tourism and the landscape of the Golden Valley, plus bad smells.

Before Christmas, the Hereford Times reported the concerns of Charlie Westhead, who owns Neal’s Yard Creamery less than a mile from Bage Court.

He said: “It is not a suitable site and they should not be messing up these beautiful parts of the Herefordshire countryside. We think it could destroy the Golden Valley.”

A planning statement commissioned by the applicant says a high velocity ridge-mounted ventilation system is planned to deal with “atmospheric emissions”.

Noise will generally be limited to the operation of ventilation fans and transport, the statement adds.

Herefordshire Council’s planning committee is set to rule on the application.