Sustainability

Dear Reader - please read this because it is important!

A sustainable development is one which offers financial benefits to the developer without adversely affecting the environment or the health and welfare of the community. Angus Council Development Standards Committee captures this in their guiding principles for sustainable development :

• A reduced carbon footprint;
• Safe, secure vibrant and sustainable communities;
• An enhanced, protected and enjoyed natural and built environment.

This proposed development fails to meet any of these criteria.

Reduced carbon footprint

The applicant's proposals claims the development is sustainable because it uses solar panels, heat pumps, wind-energy, water re-cycling, locally grown feed and local disposal of manure theoretically will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This is GREEN_WASHING. The use of renewable energy should be a minimum requirement these days and should not disguise the weakness of the other proposals for a reduced carbon footprint.

Cereal products constitutes 50-60% of the food requirements for laying hens, whereas 20-30% of the ingredients come from tropical and sub-tropical countries and make the major contribution to the carbon footprint of the feed. Using locally sourced cereal products will only impact the carbon footprint associated with transport of part of the feed which is a minor component of the total carbon footprint. Also we question whether there is sufficient land at Cononsyth to produce sufficient cereal crops required for 64,000 hens.

Similarly we question whether there is sufficient area of land at Cononsyth to accommodate all the chicken manure which will be produced, given there are limitations on the amount of nitrogenous fertilizer which can be applied per unit area. So manure will still have to be transported, but exported from Cononsyth rather than imported.

Water collected from the roofs of the hen sheds will be contaminated with chicken dust, a highly toxic mix which includes parasites, viruses and pathogens harmful to humans and wild birds. The proposal to store this water in a local lagoon, home to ducks and other wild birds, is likely to introduce these harmful products into the local avian population. Therefore not a practical solution to reducing flood risk.