Proposed Cleethorpes salmon 'farm' - latest

The applicant still has a few hurdles to clear - chief of which is raising £75-million. 

Indoor salmon farms have a patchy financial record and some finance houses might be wary of investing in a project where there are also welfare and ethical issues to be considered. 

I have a soft spot for the site - the only place in Britain where I have seen a r-b shrike.  

A very sad day. I think the majority of people have been hoodwinked by the company and the council. It has been given the green light on the pretext of jobs and reviving the fish processing business associated with Grimsby. The pollution and harm to the river that this factory is going to bring is going to devastate the natural species, both marine and birds. 80 jobs, which will be minimum wage (our existing fish processing plants struggled to get, and keep people), is not a viable reason to destroy our local habitats. I think there has been some underhanded shenanigans going on. Nobody seems to see past this, and I wonder why Natural England and other conservation bodies didn't speak up.

The salmon-rearing 'farm' project in Cleethorpes was today granted planning consent.

It will be built on a designated wildlife site - one favoured by wildflowers, butterflies - 22 species - and migrant passerines.

North East Lincolnshire councillors decided the promise of 80 jobs trumped ethical considerations and the welfare of wildlife.

No objection was raised by consultee Natural England.



 

Thanks Nick.

Anyone wishing to do so can comment on the planning application via

planninganddevelopment.nelincs.gov.uk/online-applications/

The reference number is:

DM/0539/23/FUL

Here is what one commenter has written:

 "I am not an expert in planning applications, but common sense makes me believe that the
 proposed development is too close to domestic properties, too close to SSSI, will cause water and
 noise pollution and damage the tourist offering. It is also promoting an unnatural and cruel farming
 method whilst destroying a local wildlife site. As the planning department has control over the
 destruction of these sites, I would urge them to take into account the council's stated intent to
 protect nature."
 

Interesting Jim. I think whatever 'green washing' they propose is just that. It is just designed to placate the masses into believing they are a caring company who have the wildlife at heart. When in fact as you say, it will not benefit the existing species that have relied on this site. I wonder who conducts their surveys, and who proposes these mitigation sites. There are other problems associated with Salmon farms, of which most of us are aware... but the town will only be interested in the job opportunities, and hang the consequences. What I do find annoying though, is that all these who bleat about the so called job prospects are oblivious to the other companies/factories here, that can never fill their vacancies because nobody wants to work in a factory for minimum wages. Its as if they think working in a Salmon farm processing plant is going to earn them top dollar with fabulous conditions and benefits.

Agents for the firm wanting to build an indoor salmon 'farm' on the outskirts of Cleethorpes (near Grimsby Town's Blundell Park ground)  have outlined proposed mitigation measures for the inevitable loss of habitat and wildlife that development would bring.

For instance, rowan, hawthorn, field maple and holly trees would be planted around the perimeter to compensate for the inevitable loss of buddleia and elder which are currently growing on much of the site.

Also proposed is installation of 10 bird nest boxes of various designs.

However, these are unlikely to be of benefit to breeding whitethroats or winter-visiting species such as rock pipits, stonechats and snow buntings which will now find themselves displaced.

In previous years, black redstart, red-backed shrike and even bluethroat have also been reported

A decision on the application could be made by North East Lincolnshire Council planners within as soon as the next couple of months.