Labour's agriculture plans 'will fill rivers with chicken faeces'

Labour's proposal to loosen planning regulations for farmers will deluge rivers with chicken faeces, environmental campaigners have warned.

- Helena Horton

The environment secretary, Steve Reed, yesterday promised farmers they would be able to build larger chicken sheds, but experts have said this would create "megafarms" and contribute to river pollution.

Speaking at the annual Oxford Farming Conference, Reed was attempting to rebuild confidence with farmers after widespread anger over changes to inheritance tax and cuts to subsidies. A small protest formed outside the Examination Schools in Oxford where he was speaking and tractor horns partially drowned out his speech.

Reed said: "Planning rules have got in the way for too long. We will speed up the system so you can grow and diversify your farm business, such as chicken producers who need a larger shed to increase the amount of food they produce."