The Physical Planning and Development Board (PPDB) has rejected businessman Lance Oliver’s request for an extension to relocate his animal farm currently located in Villa.
Previously, Oliver was given until November 26 to remove all his pigs and ducks from a farm he has operated for about two decades, but is in a residential area, or failure to do so would have resulted in the PPDB shutting down the operation.
Oliver told ANN in a previous interview that he did not have an issue relocating but wanted the authorities to give him a little more time.
He explained that the process of relocating would take some time, taking into consideration the relevant paperwork etc.
However, in a recent letter sent to Oliver, the authorities acknowledged his request for the extension which he did via a letter dated November 23, 2023.
In that letter, Oliver sought additional time, until March 31, 2024 to comply.
But the PPDB responded: “The Board has deliberated your request for an extension of time in light of all the facts and issues and has come to a decision that the latest extension sought will not be granted.”
“As such, your failure to comply with the terms set out in the aforementioned letter dated 25 September 2023 will result in immediate actions by the PPDB which are deemed appropriate, reasonable, and necessary in the circumstances,” the authorities stated in the letter.
The letter referenced a meeting between the sub-committee of the PPDB and himself at the Attorney General’s Chambers on September 12, 2023, where it stated that Oliver was allowed to dialogue about the issue of the farm, which included the breeding, rearing, and slaughter of animals in a residential area without the proper approval for well over a decade.
“As you are aware, an Enforcement Notice was served on you on June 3, 2013, requiring you to cease operation immediately, having carried out development at Villa without a written grant of permission from the Physical Planning and Development Board,” the letter stated.
It went on to say that despite repeated extensions of time and effort to work with Oliver over the years, he continued to operate the farm.
And at the most recent meeting in September, he was given a further 60 days to relocate the pigs and ducks.
“The correspondence dated September 25, 2023 from the Board to you clearly outlined the conditions and consequences of failing to comply,” the letter stated.
According to the members of the sub-committee, and contained in the letter, the Environmental Health Department visited the site on November 16, 2023 and it was revealed that there were 169 pigs, which demonstrated an increase compared to previous visits, and that there was still no proper system in place to manage poultry and other small ruminants’ waste which resulted in an offensive odour.