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The owner of a dairy farm near Gelligaer has claimed that new regulations being brought in by the Welsh Government will have “little or no impact” on operations.

Caerphilly Senedd Member Hefin David previously said stricter regulation on the storage and spreading of farming slurry would help authorities deal with odour problems affecting residents near Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm.

Alun Price, director and co-owner at Price and Co Farming, said the farm already exceeds the new regulatory requirements.

He said: “Contrary to a report in the paper, there have long been limits in place on spreading in terms of weather condition, proximity to watercourses and application rates.

“Had the elected members you quoted taken the time to speak with us about this issue, we would have been able to give them the assurances and evidence they seek.

“There are several elements to the new Nitrate Vulnerable Zone legislation but the one most talked about is the introduction of a “closed period” from mid-October until mid-January, during which the spreading of nitrate compound fertiliser and slurry is not permitted. This does not affect us because we do not spread during that period anyway.”

He added: “We have invested in technology and processes to minimise the odours that arise from our operations but there are certain distinct smells associated with the countryside and livestock that cannot be removed.”