Inland salmon farm decision 'could be overturned'

18 hours ago

The trout ponds to the left are now empty but the concrete tanks will be used instead

Julian Connor A drone shot of the site, with a series of ponds surrounded with greenery going down one side of a large channel which lookts like a river but isn't. On the other side, a couple of smaller industrial buildings and around six concrete tanks. — The trout ponds to the left are now empty but the concrete tanks will be used instead

The decision to allow an inland salmon farm could be overturned following a legal challenge from a campaign group.

Wiltshire Council approved Avon Valley Salmon's plans for the former trout farm in Downtown, near Salisbury, in May.

However, Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF) filed a judicial review claim with the High Court in June, citing that the authority had not done an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The group said the council has since written to CAFF, saying it will rescind planning permission. The applicants said it would delay the project but not stop it.

Company owner, Julian Connor, said the council had not previously required an EIA but now did.

"It is disappointing, but... we don't see this as stopping the project, it's a six-month delay."

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CAFF wrote to Wiltshire Council and filed a judicial review claim, arguing the authority had not considered animal welfare or done an EIA, which would show the "true scale of the environmental impact".

It also cited concerns about the farm being close to the River Avon Special Area of Conservation and the impact of sludge coming from fish waste, querying if it would end up in rivers.

Maya Pardo, from CAFF, said: "There isn't really a safe way of finding out where it's going. Is it going to be spread on fields that don't really need it?

"There's just a lot of unanswered questions."

Avon Valley Salmon previously said the sludge would be taken to special areas and used in fertiliser.

These concrete tanks would be protected by the building

A shot of two concrete tanks partially in the ground with water. Trees surround. — These concrete tanks would be protected by the building

The company added a closed system of tanks and specialist filters would stop waste from entering the nearby river.

"We have a massive water filtration system and we have a massive wastewater treatment system. Our discharge water doesn't pollute the local river at all," said Connor.

A canopy - or building - over the top would also stop bird poo contaminating water, meaning the fish will not need antibiotics that would destroy the filtration system, the firm added.

There are concerns about the river running next to the fish farm

A view looking down the middle of the river: it is a wide part of the river, with lush green grassy banks and the odd tree. A sunny day with white clouds and blue sky. — There are concerns about the river running next to the fish farm

In a letter seen by the BBC, Wiltshire Council said it had created an order to quash the original decision due to the lack of an EIA.

Councillor Adrian Foster, cabinet member for development management, said the matter remained subject to ongoing legal proceedings.

He added: "Although we anticipate that we are close to reaching a conclusion, the proposed Consent Order has not yet been finalised by all parties or approved by the [High] Court. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

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