MORE than 10,000 people have now signed a petition opposing plans to create a rabbit farm in an area of outstanding natural beauty near Mylor.

The petition on Change.org is opposed to an application being put forward by Phil Kerry of T&S Nurseries to open the farm on the banks of Restronguet Creek. The application, lodged with Cornwall Council last month, is to install a mobile home for a temporary worker’s dwelling and barn on land north of Tregunwith Wood, Tregunwith.

The petition started by Rabbit Farm Resistance UK says it believes there is no place in the 21st century and that this farm should simply not be allowed to come into fruition.

"The proposed location is near Tregunwith Wood, an area of outstanding natural beauty that deserves to remain so and not to be blighted with a facility such as this," it says. "It will also border the south-western shore of Restronguet Creek, posing a threat to this water source, with no clear explanation in the application outlining how they intend to keep their operation from contaminating it.

"Everything in the application appears to relate to human waste linked to the proposed onsite dwelling, but farming on such a scale will undoubtedly produce a great deal of animal waste, and thus poses a threat to local residents and wildlife."

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The temporary dwelling will enable a worker to live on site to look after, what would eventually become over three years, a farm for 250 free range doe rabbits producing 10,000 units a year.

The site is located down a one-kilometre track, which is also a popular public footpath, leading to the Pandora Inn and Mylor Bridge. It is set in an open field on the south-western shore of Restronguet Creek.

The application has now attracted over 110 comments of objection on Cornwall Council's planning site.

Miss Alice Palmer wrote on Sunday: "This proposal is frankly ridiculous. The area involved is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, but it is more than that. It is an area known for its fauna and flora, accessed by locals and tourists alike.

"The proposed buildings would be a visual burden on the area, not to mention the disruption to local eco-systems. To build upon this area, whatever the purpose, would be against the very purpose of the AONB designation."

The planning application says Mr Kerry will make use of double Heras fences runs with the hutches inside. It says the Heras fences are very lightweight and can be moved around by one person and will systematically moved from time to time around the site.

It says 'pest' control will be managed as necessary with bait boxes used for mice and rodent control and fencing for fox and stoat control

All the rabbits will be kept outdoors and waste carcasses will be disposed of by a licenced contractor on a regular basis.

The rabbit droppings will be allowed to fertilise the underlying grass. Other waste such as used bedding is allowed to compost and is used as a natural growing medium for potted trees and shrubs.

The agricultural building will be used to store hay and straw bales, food for the rabbits, machinery and tools.