NOISY tractors, bleating sheep and farmyard smells could scupper plans by a Furness farmer to site an agricultural building in open fields.

Steve Mouland has applied to Barrow council to create a building for lambing and sheep shearing, as well as storing hay bales, a tractor and agricultural equipment at Woodbine Lane, Newton-in-Furness,

But it has drawn five objections and planning officers have recommended  councillors reject the application at a meeting on Tuesday, October 1.

Council officers said the proposed building – on the rural outskirts of Newton – is still close to residents and could disturb them.

A report described the site as half-a-mile from the centre of Newton along Newton Cross Road. It is also near another farm and neighbouring homes.

The report said: “The location is very close to the rear of a residential dwelling unconnected with the operation. This will focus farming activity very close to the dwelling and likely result in unnecessary noise and disturbance.”

The report added that the transporting and unloading hay bales at all times of the day or night, tractor engines and new-born lambs during lambing time, could all create noise.

It would ‘transmit directly’ towards the nearby bungalow, the council report said.

However, Mr Mouland has argued that alternative locations are no good and that he planned to make the building olive green to fit in with the landscape.

In his submission to the council, Mr Mouland commented: “The reason we have applied to put the building here is that we own adjacent fields which have direct road access onto Woodbine Lane so it will minimise disruption to neighbours.

“As the building is open fronted, we need it located in a place where there are no animals otherwise they would be in there eating all the hay. Where we have located it is the perfect location.”

But the officer’s report said it would ‘feature prominently’ and ‘break’ the skyline.

“Whilst a level of such noise is expected in a countryside location, concentrating it in such a way can be considered to be detrimental when other locations on the farm could be further explored which would certainly reduce any impact on residents,” the officer found.

Barrow’s planning committee, chaired by Cllr Colin Thomson, met at the town hall today where the application was withdrawn.