Close Leece Farm Planning Statement
Detail of application
Close Leece farm currently has a range of livestock including chickens, rare breed Tamworth pigs and rare breed Golden Guernsey goats. We are an active part of the ‘Manx Ark’ project in association with RBST (Rare Breeds Survival Trust).
We plan to grow our current livestock numbers but need to do some upgrades to animal housing and fencing to achieve that. Following the advice of Chirs Kneale from DEFA we are applying for permission as follows : A) Placement of movable goat field shelters.
- Up to 4 shelters, to be placed initially in field 330351
- but moved around farm as required for pasture rotation and welfare reasons (not within 9m of river)
- footprint to be max 6m x 3m, max height 2m with an apex roof.
- constructed from timber frame with profiled metal cladding
- rainwater to be collected from roof to drinking trough
Justification : Goats cannot withstand being left outside in the rain and must have easy access to shelter within their pasture. Currently our herd of 13 rare breed golden Guernsey goats is housed in four small pig arks which are only really suitable for 2 or 3 goats each. 6 kids were born on the farm this spring and overcrowding is now beginning, resulting in animal welfare issues. Hence we need bigger shelters.
The British Goat Society recommends that each goat housed in a group has at least 2 sq.m of shelter within their pasture. By next spring the herd is expected to increase to at least 23 and 35 by 2016. Even before this we will need most of the extra shelters given the need to separate bucks and male goatlings from females, and keep mothers with kids separated from the rest of the females.
B) Placement of moveable chicken coops.
- Up to 4 chicken coops to be placed initially in field 334899
- but moved around farm as required for pasture rotation and welfare reasons (not within 9m of river)
- footprint to be max 3.6m x 4.8m, max height 2.4m to allow adequate air ventilation with an apex roof.
- Each chicken coop to house upto 200 laying hens.
- To be constructed in wood and painted green.
- Rainwater to be collected from roof via guttering to water butt feeding drinkers
Justification: The isle of man currently imports most of its eggs. There is a big demand for free range eggs produced with high standards of animal welfare.
C) Renewal and replacement of some of the existing stock fencing around the farm, with 1.6m high (goat-proof) stock fencing. This looks identical to standard stock fencing but slightly higher.
Justification: Goats can easily jump standard height stock fencing. We need to upgrade some fencing to minimise the risk of livestock escaping to the Patrick Road. Particularly field 330351 has a significant border with the Patrick Road and the current fencing is inadequate to contain goats.
