Islanders who live around the egg farm and submitted complaints about the fly nuisance it generated filled the public gallery of the old Magistrate’s Court yesterday as the terms of the closure were signed off by the Deputy Bailiff.
The farm houses around 12,000 chickens in four barns, which will be cleared, cleaned, and disposed of in phases.
The first needs to be emptied and cleaned by 1 August, the second by 10 September and the final two by 31 March next year. All the barns need to be removed that day too.
All the chickens will be culled. Animal waste and carcasses from the site will need to be taken to the public incinerator by a certified waste removal firm.
No order for court costs was made by the States.
States’ Vet David Chamberlain has been involved in negotiations with the parties.
Representatives from the farm did not attend the proceedings, but it was noted by Health & Social Care’s lawyer that they did not oppose the conditions of the court order.
HSC’s lawyers said the owners “find the court process extremely stressful and want to avoid it”.
The States’ Environmental Health department was looking to fine the business for not complying with an enforcement order, but the farm instead decided to wind up it’s operations rather than fight in court.
Deputy Bailiff Jessica Roland in approving the consent order said she hoped it would mark the end of the matters, but added if any breaches occur the matter would come back before the court.