PEOPLE living near the site of a planned poultry venture have won a long-running battle to put a halt to the scheme.

Plans for the unit housing up to 32,000 free-range hens have been rejected by Carmarthenshire county council.

The unit on Godre Garreg farm, one kilometre from the village, would have included space for packing millions of eggs.

There were 79 objections and a more than 1,700-signature petition, with complaints focusing on smell, proximity to houses and increased traffic.

Residents who live in neighbouring properties – some as close as 17 metres from the proposed site – expressed their anger at the plans.

One resident, who lives opposite the entrance to the farm, said: "I am a retired farmer's wife, and have been in farming all my life and am well aware that at certain times farming practices cause smell and noise, but I am sure that this area will not have witnessed anything on this scale.

"This development is huge and could be seen as of industrial proportions."

Expressing their opposition to the 2,800sq metre unit another resident said: "This area is loved by the local community, visitors and tourists alike.

"To allow a foul, industrial scale unit to be sited near our small village with all the associated pollution, noise, increased traffic and detrimental impact on the natural environment in terms of air, land and water pollution would not in any way be in the interests of the local community."

Members of the planning committee discussed the plans following a site visit.

Despite being recommended to approve the plans, nine of the 12 councillors rejected them.

Chairman of the planning committee councillor Alun Lenny said: "This has been an exceptionally difficult case and I am aware it has caused some discomfort in the area."

He had previously described the application as 'one of the most difficult I can recall in terms of balancing both sides,' suggested the applicants consider a different location for the unit.