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Complete the following to send this message to Brian Frater, Head of planning
Dear Mr. Brian Frater, I am absolutely appalled to learn that the sheds at Stobo Valley are still going ahead. Glenrath farms propose a further shed to house around 35000 birds, in Stobo Valley, Scotland. Stobo Valley is an area known for its bio diversity and beauty. This follows Glenrath farms, who produce over 1.3 million eggs every year, plans to open 10 sheds in West Linton in the Scottish Borders. It would be Europes biggest, housing around 25000 hens in each of the 9 sheds. The area is also home to protected species, badgers, bats and some endangered invertebrates. Glenrath have previously been the subject of undercover investigation, videos of which can be viewed on the internet, exposing the horrendous cramped conditions the birds are forced to live in. The caged hens, trapped in tiny wire crates which allow no movement, never see daylight and never get to exercise their legs. The company claim the sheds will be Free Range, although plans for the sheds prove that most of the birds will still never see the light of day, with the outside run making up a small proportion in comparison to the size of the shed. Only a percentage of the birds would be able to get outside at any one time. This form of hen housing means that the thousands or birds are so cramped together, some can not even reach water. They stand in their own urine and faeces, causing urine burning to the legs. Infection and disease spreads easily in confined conditions and birds who can not exercise can suffer from heart attacks and strokes. Chickens have a hierarchy which means dominant birds are more likely to fight their way to the space outside, leaving some birds inside permanently. Each year, approx 30 million chicks are disposed of because they are male, and useless to the egg industry.. Baby chickens bred for this industry are born in a hatchery, where they are put on a production line and the males are separated from females, before being put alive in to a macerator, a machine with spinning blades. Other hatcheries gas the chicks, which can take 15 minutes to cause death. Intensive sheds like these require large amounts of chemicals and waste disposal, management. Glenrath farms will have to undergo environmental surveys 6 months prior to construction. The nearby river Tweed, surrounding wildlife and land will be in danger from some amount of pollution and destruction, even with measures taken to limit damage. Thank you for your time, and I hope you decide to make an ethical decision and look forward to receiving your reply. Yours faithfully,
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