The reconstruction of two farms which, last year, were destroyed by a tidal surge and led to the deaths of 700,000 chickens has been described as 'deeply depressing.'
"Even though the Environment Agency has warned that the site, which is on a flood plain, is vulnerable to another deluge, 2 Sisters has rebuilt one of the farms and is rearing chickens there, while the other is being reconstructed," said Animal Aid.
On December 5 last year a massive tidal surge led to 700,000 chickens drowning in their sheds on two adjacent Lincolnshire farms owned by the 2 Sisters Food Group.
With no prospect of evacuating hundreds of thousands of chickens at short notice in the event of another flood warning, the reconstruction has been criticised.
The chicken plant employed around 1,200 people and is the largest slaughter site in the UK.
Animal Aid Director Andrew Tyler said: "Pathological cruelty and neglect have to be dealt with so that animals do not fall prey to the farming trade's worst practitioners. This means that the meagre welfare laws and regulatory restraints currently in place must be strengthened and enforced.
"But no-one should imagine that either regulated or unregulated suffering can be banished from animal farming and slaughter. Meat, egg and milk production are pitiless, bloody activities that are predicated on industrial-scale animal exploitation and killing."
At the time of the flooding, Nick Murray, the spokesman for 2 Sisters, said: "Our hearts go out to our farmers who faced the full force of last week's tidal surge.
"The clear up operation is now complete. We will help our farmers in any way we can to help them get back to normality and rebuild their livelihoods."
