A THREE-day planning inquiry is set to start today into plans for a mega egg farm which would be home to 112,000 birds.

Local residents have been fighting the plans for the egg farm on land at Nancegollan, near Helston.

Cornwall Council refused to grant planning permission for the development last year but the applicants have appealed the decision.

The planning inspectorate is considering the appeal and is holding a three-day inquiry at Nancegollan starting today (Tuesday, April 16).

It will hear evidence from a number of people including the applicants and their opponents which the inspector will consider before making a decision.

Under the plans the applicants, Richland Foods Ltd, wanted to build four sheds which would have tiers inside – three of the sheds would have 32,000 birds each and the fourth would have 16,000.

The egg farm would cover an area of around 160 acres with the sheds measuring the same length as 13 double decker buses.

Campaigners say that they are concerned that the egg farm would have a major impact on roads in the area and also damage the environment.

And the objectors have had more than 23,000 people sign a petition against the plans.

John Thornhill lives next to the proposed site of the farm and is part of a group of local people who are campaigning against the development.

As well as traffic and environmental factors, objectors are also concerned about the dust and smell which would be created by the farm as well as the noise of fans which will operate around the clock.

Mr Thornhill added: “It is not good for Cornwall, there is absolutely no benefit and there are far more people against it than supporting it.

“We hope that the planning inspector will listen to us.”

The inquiry will start at 10am each day and finish at 5pm each day at Nancegollan Village Hall.