Proposed Chicken Farm Emissions Threaten Villagers' Health

According to a report commissioned by animal rights activists, a proposed 180,000-bird chicken "factory farm" in Toynton St Peter, East Lindsey would produce air pollution levels similar to a 4.3-mile stretch of the M25 motorway carrying 160,000 vehicles per day. The report's author, air quality expert Dr. Michael Bull, claims the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted from the farm would pose serious health risks to nearby villagers.

Some residents of Toynton St Peter have expressed grave concerns about the planned poultry unit, with one local saying they are "worried sick" about the implications for public health. Villager Lyndon Brace, who has lived in the area for 44 years, argues the industrial-scale farm is in the "wrong place" and should be located on an industrial estate instead.

The Toynton Action Group has formally opposed the planning application, which would see 25 homes within 700 meters of the proposed facility. Independent experts have validated Dr. Bull's comparison to the M25, with one atmospheric scientist warning that the pollutants could "enter into your body" and "never have a good outcome." However, the full health impact will depend on the villagers' overall exposure to PM2.5 from other sources.

Should the application be approved, the new poultry unit would become the 857th such farm in Lincolnshire, which currently houses 37.5 million birds across 856 facilities. The district council says it will consider all information submitted before making a decision on the controversial proposal.