Residents worried that a large-scale meat processing plant could be built under the shelter of a rural tourism farm

Residents of the village of Laičiai in the Višintai municipality are concerned about a planned construction in the village, where they say a high-capacity meat-processing plant could be built under the cover of a farmhouse. They have questions about the project's compliance with the Anykščiai District Municipality's general plan and the requirements of the European Ecological Network "Natura 2000".

On 30 June, a group of Laičiai villagers wrote to the Mayor of Anykščiai Kęstutis Tubis, the Director of Administration of Anykščiai Municipality Jurgita Baniene, the Anykščiai District Council and the editorial board of „Anykšt'any“. In the circulated notice, the residents expressed their concerns about the planned construction on the land plot (cadastral No 3484/0001:622). The site is located in a recreational area of intensive use, which promotes rural tourism and recreation, and is close to a Natura 2000 site and an alkaline wetland.

According to the residents, although the Anykščiai District Municipality Administration issued a building permit on 18 April 2023 for the construction of recreational (non-residential) buildings under the project „Rural tourism building adapted for educational programmes“, the technical design envisages a high-capacity meat-processing facility. According to the residents, it would be able to produce 200-300 kg per day and up to 1,500 kg per week, using cold wood smoke to smoke meat products for 12 hours or more.

The villagers stress that the detailed description of the meat production process in the technical design, with all the steps involved, including storage and distribution of products, has nothing to do with education or rural tourism. This is not in line with the purpose of the building permit and is misleading information for the public.

The residents ask the municipality whether it is allowed to construct a building for industrial purposes (meat processing plant with smoking rooms) in a recreational area and in the vicinity of a Natura 2000 site and ask for the legal basis if such a building is allowed.