A 32,000 bird poultry unit between Welshpool and Newtown has been given the green light by Powys Councillors.

The planning committee in Llandrindod Wells listened to applicant  23-year-old farmer, Geraint Jarman, who explained that the proposal would secure a future for himself and his 14 -year-old brother, John.

Mr Jarman said that his family had been farming at Tan yr Wtra, Llanwyddelan near New Mills, for six generations.

"Due to the vulnerability of the beef and sheep market we need to diversify to ensure a sustainable and viable future for me and John and the generations to come," said Mr Jarman.

Earlier Mrs O'Neil had spoken against the proposal and pointed to caravan owners in the area who were opposed to the development.

A 248 signature petition had been lodged opposing the chicken shed.

She said: "A five star caravan site will be overlooked by the development.

"This is against the policy to develop and safeguard tourism in Powys."

Mrs O'Neil believed that flies, vermin and dirt from the development would risk losing tourism in the area without providing new employment opportunities

"Individual applications may be acceptable but a cumulative affect should be considered, we're already swamped," said Mrs O'Neill.

Mrs O'Neill pointed out that if all applications for similar developments came to fruition along with those already built, there would be 11 in a 12 square mile radius around the village.

She also believed that wells that provided private water supplies for properties would be polluted by muck spreading.

Agent Geraint Davies, rebutted her argument adding that 50m buffer zones would be in place around natural wells in the area, safeguarding the water supply.

Mr Davies also pointed out the petition had been signed by people from Berriew, Trefeglwys and Aberystwyth and 14 letters of support had been submitted.

The site for the free range egg laying unit will measure 134 metres in length, 20 metres in width and around eight metres in height.