A FAMOUS face is backing a campaign to stop plans for a 32,000 holding chicken shed near Llandeilo.

A proposal has been made for a large scale free-range chicken farm on land north of Glanmyddyfi, Llandeilo.

The plans are a resubmission of a similar scheme by Terry Davies which was withdrawn in 2014.

More than 60 letters of objection have been received by Carmarthenshire Council’s planning department and TV presenter Iolo Williams has announced that he’s backing the campaign to stop the plans.

Mr Williams said: “The proliferation of chicken farms in rural Wales is of grave concern, both for their threats to wildlife and on moral grounds.

“Unfortunately, Powys, where I live, is one of the worst culprits in giving consent to these farms.

“It is madness to allow a chicken farm to be built in such a sensitive part of rural Carmarthenshire whose rivers are renowned for their salmon and sea trout as well as other riparian species such as otters and little-ringed plover.”

The chicken farm is not the only concern as objectors have raised a catalogue of issues regarding the resubmitted plans for the site outside Llandeilo including its proximity to the River Myddyfi, which is a sewin run and are fearful of manure polluting the local waterways.

Campaigners to the scheme claim that the 32,000 hens would be double the RSPCA recommended amount and produce over 1,300 tons of manure annually.

Denys Smith, who was the first to object to the plans, said: “The manure smell, fumes and noise coming from the shed will make the area unpleasant for residents and especially for walkers and riders.

“The placement of a large shed on a greenfield site rather than with existing farm buildings is an unnecessary assault on the landscape.”

Llangadog Community Council has said that the current proposed location for a poultry unit of the size and scale is inappropriate due to its close proximity to several neighbouring properties, and has worries about noise, smell and visual amenity.

Llandeilo county councillor Edward Thomas added: “32,000 birds would be producing large amounts of livestock manure and there is a danger that if there are not enough safeguards that this manure could enter the Tywi, and cause pollution problems along the length of the river”.

The application is due to be discussed in the new year by Carmarthenshire Council planning committee.