Farm's new milking parlour 'would help attract higher quality staff'

Concerns have been raised about noise coming from the proposed unit

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A farmer has submitted plans to the council for a new milking parlour near Ruthin which could create jobs. Dewi Roberts has applied to Denbighshire County Council, seeking permission for a new milking parlor building and cow handling area at Bodynys Farm in Rhewl.

The farm has 450 milking cows and youngstock with a range of livestock accommodation already in place. But the current milking parlour is over 30 years old, and Mr Roberts says the current operations take too long.

The new parlour will allow the farmer to milk more cows in a shorter time period and will, according to the planning application, help attract higher quality staff from the local area. In a planning statement, Mr Roberts says: "The parlour building is designed to optimise working conditions of all employees on the farm and to maximize cow throughput whilst providing the best possible animal welfare.

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“The development will allow the farm business to progress, which creates employment. The current parlour is old and not very efficient.

"This puts off potential employees wishing to operate the parlour. One of the main drivers for the new parlour is to improve staff facilities and welfare on a modern progressive dairy unit.”

But Mr Matthew Harvey of The Coach House, The Grange, Rhewl, has concerns. In a letter to the council, Mr Harvey wrote: "What additional insulation is there to prevent noise from the rotary milking machine, mainly pneumatic pulsing, from carrying to very local private properties?"

If the milking parlour gets the go ahead, the sides of the new building will be clad in steel sheets with concrete panels up to two metres from ground level. The doors will be galvanised steel, and the roof will be fibre cement in natural grey with translucent sections.

The application states that the new parlour will be well screened from the north, east, and south by existing buildings, trees, and hedges. The plans, though, must first be considered by Denbighshire’s planning committee and will be debated at a future meeting at Ruthin’s County Hall.