Joyce asks minister to ‘press pause’ on new poultry units to assess impact on Welsh rivers

Local Senedd Member Joyce Watson has again asked Wales’ Rural Affairs minister to ‘press pause’ on new intensive poultry units in Wales.

Recent research showed that Powys now has more than 150 intense poultry units, housing an estimated 10 million chickens. These create an estimated extra 2,000 tonnes of phosphate a year to be spread onto land in the Wye catchment area, potentially causing devastating river pollution.

Joyce Watson MS, Mid and West Wales, said:

“It is a year since I asked for an urgent update on planning guidance for new poultry developments from the intensive agriculture working group, and this is even more urgent now.”

Slurry (animal waste) can cause environmental damage when it runs off the land into rivers and lakes, polluting the water and killing wildlife. It can also affect drinking water if it enters groundwater.

Natural Resources Wales has said that most of Wales’ major rivers are suffering from significant water pollution.

Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said she was working with the Climate Change Minister and Natural Resources Wales on this and said that local planners are legally required not to grant planning permission when special areas of conservation waters are under threat of excessive phosphates.

Speaking after the debate, Mrs Watson added: 

“Our beautiful rivers such as the Wye and the Teifi have suffered too many pollution incidents. These have a devastating impact and can take decades to recover from. Our rivers are one of our greatest assets, supporting our rural communities and generating income from tourism, water sports and angling, as well as being a vital part of our environment. And we all pay for pollution clean-ups through our water bills.  

“I will continue to push for a moratorium on new developments until this issue is resolved.”