People Before Profit slam proposed Lough Neagh 'Mega-Farm'

People Before Profit Mid Ulster have described the planned nearly 50,000 chicken capacity factory farm beside Lough Neagh as a 'disastrous threat to an already dying ecosystem', and have received over 250 signatures on a petition against the factory farm. 

A spokesperson for PBP Mid Ulster explained why there is widespread community anger regarding the planning application.

"Lough Neagh is already in a state of crisis, poisoned by effluent from existing factory farms which have been proven time and time again to bring pollution and ecological devastation to our waters," they said.

"Now, a major industrial complex with the capacity for 49,000 chickens, nearly 10,000 over the factory farm threshold, is being planned close to its shores outside Magherafelt.

"Out of approximately 25,000 active farms in the North, this new development would likely rank in the top 1% for size. A giant factory farm like this will inevitably bring stink, suffering, and further toxic pollution. As residents near a similarly proposed farm in Limavady rightly pointed out, 'This isn't an extension or someone looking to build a garage, this is a major industrial complex on my back door' and 'It brings noise, foul odours, and severe health and environmental risks to the community'."

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The spokesperson continued: "Despite the undeniable harm, Stormont continues to incentivise these polluting factory farms with subsidies, rates relief and schemes like Going For Growth, touting unsubstantiated benefits like job creation, while scapegoating small farmers. The truth is that the harm vastly outweighs any benefits. It is our precious local environment, small farmers, the animals, and the people who rely on the lough for their drinking water who pay the price to subsidise massive, profit-driven agribusiness.

"Furthermore, there is a deeply concerning pattern of destructive planning decisions in this region. Just as Mid Ulster Council approved an extension to Moyola Precision Engineering manufacturing parts for the F-35 planes bombing Iran and Palestine, decision-makers are once again ignoring the knock-on impacts on our communities. Those in charge at Stormont and local councils must take responsibility for the harm inflicted on our doorstep.

"We urge the public to take action and demand the immediate rejection of this massive poultry farm. We cannot allow further pressure on our water quality or more misery for local residents, and we firmly stand against this factory farm as well as the proposed one in Limavady while our waterways and tap water run foul."

The petition can be accessed here