PLANNING permission has been granted for the construction of a slurry lagoon in Sageston.

The application from Hugh James was discussed by the Planning and Rights of Way committee last Tuesday (September 9).

The proposal included the development of a slurry lagoon on land east of Llandigwynett, with an estimated capacity of more than 3 million gallons. It is intended to serve a large dairy farm operating from Langdon Mill Farm.

The application, which was partly in retrospect, was recommended for approval subject to the completion of a section 106 legal agreement.

Ten letters of objection were received and a petition with 49 signatures objecting. Among the issues raised were the risk of pollution to the Carew River and Carew Pond Site of Special Scientific Interest and the visual and odour impact on Redberth.

The local member County Councillor David Neale, who is not a member of the planning committee but was given permission by the chairman to make a representation in a non-voting capacity, said: “This application has received many valid objections.

“I do not think the tidal surges of the Carew River have been taken into account. The pit is within 20 to 30 metres of the main river and about 10 metes from one of its tributaries.

“Any leakage will result in contamination.”

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Mr D James said: “The last thing we want to do is upset our neighbours, we want to be good neighbours.

“There are no real grounds for anyone to complain about smells, a lot of people are just using their emotions.

“By pumping the slurry to the site it will save around 300 tankers having to travel through the village of Jeffreyston.”

Cllr Jacob Williams said: “I haven’t been inundated with objectors; all of the affected residents are in Cllr’s Neale’s ward.

“I don’t think smells are an issue, there would be more created by spreading.

“What concerns me is the construction; it looks dry and has big cracks in it.”

Eight councillors voted in favour of the recommendation for approval and one against.