PLANS for a £2million high-tech dairy farm which faced fierce opposition from residents of a nearby hamlet have been backed by Ribble Valley councillors.

Farmer David Barnes applied to build four new agricultural units and a machinery store, installing dairy facilities and a new farm road at Withgill Fold more than 10 months ago.

Last night he told members of the council's planning and development committee that the development is vital to keep farming thriving in the Ribble Valley and that the 1,150-acre farm will house more than 1,000 cows, increasing employment and trade for local agricultural suppliers in the face of the 15 dairy farms that closed in the borough last year.

Objector Simon Le Bon expressed concerns about noise and said that proposed bunds - large mounds to reduce noise pollution - would be similar to motorway embankments.

Councillors were divided and expressed concerns about conflicting evidence from independent experts, but after an hour-long discussion approved the plans by a marginal majority of nine votes to eight. Two additional conditions were attached regarding the size of the bunds and noise pollution.

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