DOWN here on the Bearse in St Briavels every summer for the last 25 years our tranquil lives have been blighted by swarms of  flies crawling over our walls, ceilings, working surfaces and any food not covered. We and our neighbours strongly believed that the source of the problem was the nearby chicken farm.

Over many years phone calls have been made, letters sent to the authorities and to our MP, angry words have been spoken and there has even been some television coverage. All to no avail.

Our complaints were noted, inspections very occasionally made by  the authorities and fly samples taken.  

We were assured that waste was being properly treated, nothing was amiss, once even, that we had the wrong sort of flies, apparently, for our identified source. Nothing wrong was found or admitted.

To our exasperation and frustration, every year, nothing was done.  Tractor loads of chicken manure continued to leave for the surrounding fields to be dumped, simmering and ready to be spread.  Then the flies descended on us.

Two years ago the local chicken farm was closed  as they no longer conformed to the European battery farming regulations.

For the last two summers we have had no flies. After 25 years, blissfully fly-free. This is no coincidence. This proves our point.

Recently it has come to our notice that the chicken farm is to re-open again, probably this year and apparently for the purpose of rearing chicks. We have no doubt we shall be assured (as before) that the chicks will benefit from the latest environmental regulations including the proper treatment and disposal of  poultry farm waste.

And what about our human environment down here at the Bearse?  When the wrong sort of flies return, will our renewed protests be futile – yet again?   

Our complaints are not chicken-fee. We have to live with it.

– W Whight, St Briavels.