Residents’ joy as slurry lagoon plans for village near Nantwich are ditched

Councillors and villagers near Nantwich are celebrating after controversial plans for a huge slurry lagoon near homes and a school were withdrawn.

The massive lagoon was planned for land off Eastern Road between Shavington and Willaston, close to Shavington High School.

The proposal, which included a lagoon the size of two Olympic swimming pools, sparked furious objections from hundreds of residents.

Councillors David Brickhill, from Shavington, and Brian Silvester, of Willaston and Rope, are claiming victory in their campaign to stop the lagoon.

Cllr Silvester (pictured, right) said: “I am very pleased the vigorous campaign David and I have waged with the support of the parish councils, schools and local residents has been successful.

“It was outrageous to even suggest such a massive slurry lagoon should be sited so near to houses and local schools.

“The applicants have obviously seen how successful our campaign has been and have decided to withdraw it before it was rejected by the Planning Committee.”

Cllr Brickhill added: “We must be on our guard in case a revised application is brought forward.

“We would like to thank all those many people who have supported our campaign.

“This is a good example of people power winning the day. Long may it continue.”

The application was submitted by a farmer, Mr Paul Abell, from the Barthomley area.

It initially claimed it was the most suitable site for waste materials to be brought. Some of the waste was going to be brought from Muller factory at Market Drayton.

Agents for the plans had said the lagoon is needed to comply with new measures set down by Defra to reduce nitrogen from agriculture to water.

But when it emerged up to two million tonnes of slurry a year could be dumped there, it sparked a flurry of angry protests.

Objectors cited the danger of hundreds of lorry journeys on narrow lines, noxious smells, and harmful bacteria presenting health hazards to children and parents.

Shavington High School headteacher Claire White was among scores of people to write in and object.

(slurry lagoon – pic by Martin Dawes under creative commons licence)