Farmer battles council over shed planning application

Matthew Verity-Talbot, who runs a smallholding near Barrick in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, has battled with Leeds City Council for two years over building a shed to accommodate his herd of suckler cows.

Branding the situation ’a nightmare’, he said: “I requested a 75 by 30ft shed to house my cattle during the winter months and had hoped it would all be sorted this winter as I no longer have access to the fields used last year.

“But the council, after consulting their agricultural specialist, will only allow a shed big enough to accommodate eight cows, not 20, breaching RSPCA animal welfare stocking density standards.

“I would have to sell part of my herd which would be detrimental to getting my beef programme established.

“I am at my wits end.”