Connect with us

Business & Technology

Over 1,000 objections to Oxfordshire chicken farm vanish

Published

on


West Oxfordshire District Council has released a statement after a number of objections to a boiler breeder farm on the edge of Bampton seemed to a disappear from the planning page.

The issue was first reported on Thursday, May 21, when a member of the public said they were no longer on the planning application’s website (26/00770/FUL).

READ MORE: Around 250 objections to major Oxfordshire chicken farm

Responding to this later that day, a spokesperson for West Oxfordshire District Council said: “Application 26/00770/FUL this morning experienced a technical difficulty causing the comments to not be displayed on the website.

“However, this issue has now been resolved, and the comments are now viewable on the website.”

Deanery Farm near Bampton (Image: Google Maps)

The wider application, which is running until June 2, has proven highly controversial with more than 1,000 objections currently logged against the proposal for Deanery Farm, which would include 36,000 hens and more roosters.

Communities Against Factory Farming has raised objections including around air quality and ammonia, water supply and hydrology, waste management, and the risk of avian influenza.

Meanwhile Richard McBrien, chair of the Society for the Protection of Bampton, listed 17 specific points of opposition.

Oxfordshire farmer Patrick Hook

He said: “In the absence of robust, site-specific evidence demonstrating that odour, air quality, and environmental impacts can be effectively controlled, and having regard to the proximity of sensitive receptors including residential properties and a primary school, the proposal gives rise to a clear and unacceptable risk of harm.”

Deanery Farm was purchased by P D Hook Group, a leading UK poultry breeder and rearer, in 2023 with broiler breeder farms raising parent-stock chickens (hens and roosters) to produce fertile eggs, which are then sent to hatcheries to become broiler chickens (chickens bred for meat).

Patrick Hook, owner of the 75-year-old family-owned poultry farming business, said: “We have nearly 40 farms in the south and north of England with a strong positive reputation with local residents, retailers and the agricultural industry.”

The meeting in Bampton about the chicken farm (Image: Contributed)

He added it would be built to strict environmental standards, which means wastewater is captured in tanks, litter is taken from the farm and a natural fertiliser is used.

Furthermore, Mr Hook spoke to residents at a meeting on Wednesday, May 20, to try and ease fears of concerned locals.

One spectator said he spoke “eloquently” and tried to calm concerns about an ammonia hotspot around the Primary School in Bampton.

READ MORE: UK firm defends plans for 36,000-chicken Oxfordshire farm

“The UK chicken market is seeing strong demand for Red Tractor British Chicken,” Mr Hook told this newspaper.

He continued: “If we fail to get planning to build more poultry farms, we are increasing the risk of sub-standard imports coming in from countries such as China, which is now the eighth largest importer of poultry meat into the UK.

“With increasing global volatility we must support growth in British agriculture to help the country’s food security.”





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business & Technology

Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students

Published

on



Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.

The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.

To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.

Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.

Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.





Source link

Continue Reading

Business & Technology

Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years

Published

on



The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.

The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.

A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).

“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.


What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?


“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”

The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.

The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.

Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.

An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.


What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?


Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”

It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.

Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”

The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.





Source link

Continue Reading

Business & Technology

Warning of new rules for Aldi and Lidl after watchdog review

Published

on



The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.

This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.

Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.

“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.

“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.

“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”

The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.

Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.

However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.

All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.

They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.

With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.

The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.

Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.

The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.

If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.

The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending