AN investigation has been launched after formal complaints were made about the odour from a farm’s newly installed 1,000-capacity piggery.

Wychavon District Council granted planning permission for a building to house livestock at Daniels Farm in Claines last year, but some villagers are unhappy with the smell after it came into use for pigs in April.

A resident of nearby Egg Lane, who did not wish to be named, told us “it’s not something we can live with” and said she is upset she and neighbours allegedly received no planning notices.

The 51-year-old said it is a “most disgusting rotten, urine smell” which has “intensified with the onset of the nicer weather.”

However, Gary Williams, head of planning at the district council, said the necessary consultations and notices were sent out out according with planning procedures during a consultation prior to approval last May.

He went on to say his colleagues in Environmental Health have received two complaints about the odour from the site and are “investigating to see whether or not any action is necessary.”

“However, it is important people are aware that as long as animals are being kept appropriately then planning powers to deal with smells from farms are limited where this is associated with the general agricultural use.”

He added: “We as the Local Planning Authority will however, monitor the situation and will take action if any is appropriate.”

The Vicarage Lane farm is owned by farmer and North Claines parish councillor Peter Philips.

Councillor Tony Miller, who represents Lovett and North Claines on the district council, said no complaints have been made directly to him and if people move to the country they “have to put up with it.”

“If [the piggery] breaches conditions or becomes a nuisance it will be investigated and we will try to eliminate the problem,” he said previously. “The solution will not be to remove it, but resolve the problem.

“I have had complaints from people who have moved to the country and don’t like the cockerels waking them up. I’m sorry, but that’s what you signed up for. If you live next to a farm and it’s a working farm, it’s not a show piece, it’s producing food for us. People have got to accept it was here before them.”