Birmingham Slaughterhouse Anger

Friday, February 11 2011

Permanent planning permissions have been granted to a meat processing plant and nearby sheep holding facility in Birmingham despite massive local opposition from residents and businesses.

Birmingham City Council has given Pak Mecca Meats Ltd the go ahead to continue its sheep holding facility in Barford Street and continue its meat processing operation in Bissell Street.

This week, members of the council’s Planning Committee ruled in favour of the continuing uses despite complaints that the operations, in the Highgate area of the city, were causing traffic chaos, were encouraging rats and were generating a stench and also parking problems in locality.

In December 2009, UKIP West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass addressed a meeting of the City Council’s Planning Committee to highlight the concerns of residents and businesses who said they had had enough of the nuisance caused by the meat processing plant and slaughterhouse.

Mr Nattrass’ intervention, on behalf of the Bissell Street Working Group, prompted the council to defer making a decision on Pak Mecca Meats Ltd’s sheep holding and meat processing operations while further investigations were carried out.

Sadly however, Birmingham City Council this week ruled in favour of the applicant much to the dismay of local objectors and MEP Mike Nattrass.

Mr Nattrass said: “The smell caused by these operations is absolutely appalling and this stench will deter future occupiers keen to invest in the area which would in turn generate further employment.

“This operation should be located well away from an industrial area which is close to St Martin’s Youth Centre.

“Pavements are often obstructed by sheep being off loaded, which is clearly unacceptable.

“I stand by my comments and the concerns of local residents and businesses that the whole operation is a non-conforming use in an unsuitable area close to the city core,” he added.