The Bourne Residents'
Action Group

1987-1999

There has been an honourable history of protest against unwanted commercial development in Bourne although no official group now exists. But in 1987, a protest group called the Bourne Residents' Action Group, better known as BRAG, was formed to fight the establishment of a broiler chicken unit alongside the A15 on the northern outskirts of the town.

The site had been earmarked for such a development by the Lincolnshire-based poultry packing firm of G M Padley Ltd but their outline planning permission lay dormant for several years until the firm eventually decided to proceed and by then the residents of nearby homes, mostly in Stephenson Way, became concerned about the effects that the excreta from sheds full of chickens being reared by intensive breeding methods would have on their homes, particularly when the wind was blowing in their direction. 

The subsequent campaign by BRAG was the most vociferous ever seen in Bourne and it took the form of meetings and demonstrations, petitions, a series of protest letters to the local M P and other important people who might raise a voice on their behalf. Deputations even went to Grantham to lobby meetings of the planning committee and South Kesteven District Council in full session and on one occasion three coaches carrying 120 banner-waving people turned up at the council offices to protest. But BRAG was unable to halt the tide of commercial progress and the broiler unit with its five sheds built on prime agricultural land is now a familiar sight a short distance from their homes, albeit just outside the regulatory 400-yard limit. 

In October 1999, BRAG settled its affairs and closed down. The money raised from donations and protest meetings had been eaten up by the cost of printing, postage, the hire of halls and legal fees during the two years the campaign was active. The group was wound up and the £191.26 left in the kitty donated to Bourne Civic Society. 

REVISED AUGUST 2008

Go to:     Main Index     Villages Index