PLANS for a broiler unit for up to 50,000 chickens on a farm in Upleadon have run into a barrage of opposition.

Applicant Mr G Phelps wants Forest of Dean District Council to approve the unit on land just off Orridge Lane.

In addition to four chicken houses, he proposes a service building to hold toilets, washing facilities, generators and control equipment and an isolation building, set apart from the main development.

A new vehicle access onto Orridge Road would also be formed.

The council has received more than 170 letters objecting to the scheme. Residents have said it would be 'a blot on the landscape', would devalue property and seriously compromise the listed building status of Upleadon Church and Upleadon Court.

Other concerns include the amount of traffic on the narrow country lanes, smell and noise. Upleadon Parochial Church Council and Hartpury, Corse and Upleadon parish councils have all written to register their opposition.

Dorothy Parker, clerk to Upleadon Parish Council, said: "It has caused a lot of upset. Upleadon just does not want it."

But the scheme has received support from poultry producer Freemans of Newent and the National Farmers Union.

Freemans says it already collects chickens from a farm only 800 metres from the proposed one, without any nuisance being caused. It added that it produces chickens to assured chicken production standard and to meet these criteria, it needs to grow them as near to home as possible.

A decision on the scheme will be made by councillors on the development control committee at a meeting on Tuesday. Officers are recommending that planning permission is refused.