Large slurry storage lagoon proposed on farmland off Old Bagillt Road

ImpactAutomated estimate

Summary

The applicant wants to dig a large pit in a field to store liquid manure from farm animals, known as slurry. The pit would measure about 40 metres by 40 metres, roughly the size of six tennis courts, and be dug about as deep as a double-decker bus is tall. All the earth dug out would be used to build up banks around the edge.

When full, the pit could hold around 4,293 cubic metres of slurry, close to the volume of two Olympic swimming pools. The site is a field off Old Bagillt Road in Bagillt. Most nearby buildings are shielded from a direct view of the field, with only one property to the west having a partly blocked view.

A stream runs a few minutes' walk from the site. Because the pit is close to the stream, there is a possible risk that slurry could reach the water if the pit ever leaked or overflowed. The design includes a safety margin at the top of the pit, though this has not been independently checked here.

What the council wrote

To excavate area of 40m x 40m @ 4.2m deep to form agricultural slurry lagoon. All spoil will be retained to form the banks. Elevation and floor plans are submitted with the application. Internal bank angle of 26.5 degrees, total capacity of 4,293m3 and a working capacity of 3,180m3 after allowing 750mm of freeboard.

What you can do

You can comment on this application by contacting Flintshire Council and quoting reference FUL/000222/26. The council can consider issues such as water pollution risk to the nearby stream and disruption during construction, but cannot usually intervene in routine farming practice itself.