AN application to set up a facility for breeding pheasants along with a mobile home for workers has been knocked back.

Plans had been submitted for the change of use of agricultural land to a game bird rearing unit and the erection of a temporary worker's dwelling on land opposite Mead Cottage on Willington Road, Delamere.

It would have seen 3,000 pheasant hens on site producing around 1,000 eggs a day.  Suitable eggs would be loaded into incubators with newborn chicks then being moved into pens. The plans had included a wooden mobile lodge-type building for a member of staff.

But planning officers rejected the scheme.

Two parish councils – Kelsall and Willington – had raised concerns. Kelsall said that because the business had not been established yet it was ‘unclear’ whether an on-site rural worker's dwelling was necessary.

Willington said that avian flu regulations required birds such as pheasants and poults (young partridges) to be kept inside, but that it was 'unclear' how the area around the pens would be made secure and that access issues had not been addressed.

The council's Highways Department had also objected saying it had received 'insufficient information'.

A planning officer's report, said: "Overall, whilst the gaming operation is complex and highly skilled, from the evidence available, it is not considered there is a need for a full-time worker to be on-site all year round.

"There are short periods where close monitoring is required (generally April to July) but limited evidence has been submitted as to why this cannot be carried out remotely using technology (e.g. CCTV and alarms)."

It added: "The applicant only lives two miles from the site and could easily respond to incidents if an alarm were raised. Furthermore, whilst the change of use is included in this application, which raises concerns in respect of amenity, and there are concerns of highway safety."