Happy New Year

Welcome to 2011 and a Happy New Year to you all.

Leading up to the debate on Lincs FM, I thought it would be useful to highlight a few things with you.

The first is an extract from Hansard on mega-dairies; the second is a glimpse into an MP's thinking on Mega-dairies; finally a few videos from YouTube - just to show you what intensive dairying may bring to the UK if Nocton Dairies Ltd get their planning permission.

Nocton Dairies - Hansard extract

'Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): When I have raised the subject with the Minister in the past he has made clear that this is a planning issue, but he has also said that he personally has no objections to mega-dairies. Could there not be a moratorium on the granting of planning applications for big schemes that are in the pipeline, such as Nocton's, until the results of the reviews that he mentioned have been made public?

Mr Paice: I entirely understand the hon. Lady's point, but no Minister in DEFRA has the power to create a moratorium. This is entirely a planning matter, and it is up to the local district council to decide how to respond. I have no powers to stop the development.'

Read more of the extract here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101209/debtext/101209-0001.htm


Mike Hudson - Sleaford and North Hykeham CLP

'The Nocton Dairies planning application is in and the consultation period has started. It looks like a stitch-up, so it prompted a letter to the press, as follows

"Dear Sir.

North Kesteven District Council is considering the Nocton Dairy planning application. After a nearly a month “validating” the application it is now in the consultation stage, just in time for holiday shutdown. The three-week period for the public to have their say started a week and a half before Christmas. At the time of year when many workplaces close, much of the country is on the move visiting family and friends the consultation will clock keep ticking.

The opportunity for anyone to examine the application and make a considered response to the actual plans, rather the supposed plans, is much reduced. This does not sit very well with the government’s stated objective greater public involvement in civic life and decision-making. Far from inviting people into the council chamber, this is closing door and hanging up a keep out notice."

In local government, the way to influence decisions should be through lobbying councillors, not consultation. As central government and council officers have little faith in councillors, decision making and consultation are coupled. Mostly it is a token exercise; opinion is sought and the proposal endorsed. By holding consultation of this nationally significant project over the holiday period North Kesteven Council reduces it to a cynical token exercise.'

http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/sleaford_hykeham/29023/

'We met on Monday specifically to discuss the Nocton Dairy Planning application and make a decision. After looking at the facts there was not much debate, our decision was clear.

There were points we did not consider, the biggest was animal welfare. We know this the concern for a lot of people, but animal welfare is not a planning issue. If there was any attempt to raise the issue in debate at the planning meeting, we think the officers would just say it was not their job. The second point dismissed is the power of the supermarkets over farmers.

With the difference in economic power between farmer and supermarket, the supermarket will always win. They control agriculture and are changing the face of the countryside. This was well illustrated in the BBC Panorama programme on the 22nd December. That programme, in a 15 second clip, illustrated why the Nocton Dairy should be opposed. From a shot of green fields the screen filled with row upon row of computer generated sheds.

The programme did not include interviews with a protester who is a hospital consultant. They were interviewed twice, expressing the opinion that presence of such a contration of animals would bring extra cases of asthma and other lung problems.

The programme also skated over smell. The presenter knelt by a pond of slurry and said there was no smell "thanks to the digester". A digester is not part of the Nocton application, it is a promised development dependant on a government grant.

The statement of no smell cannot be verified by television, but it was contradicted by radio. A reporter from Radio 4 flew over an American mega-dairy and could smell the stench in the aeroplane. What is easier to believe from nearly 4000 cows in open sided sheds, smell or no smell?

So the conclusion was simple. Nocton Dairies breaches North Kesteven's local plan.

http://n-kesteven.devplan.org.uk/document.aspx?document=48&display=chapter&id=362

POLICY DC1 - Agricultural or forestry development Planning permission will be granted for agricultural or forestry development, requiring planning permission, provided that the proposal:
1.Will not adversely affect the character or appearance of the countryside; and
2.Will not create noise, smell, dust or other disturbance that will adversely affect protected buildings to an unacceptable degree.'

http://www.labourblogs.com/public-blog/sleaford_hykeham/29039/


A selection of videos you may have missed in 2010.

1.  WSPA protest against proposed UK dairy cow 'battery' farm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH5uwMoj-ek

2.  Adam Henson from BBC Countryfile visits US intensive dairy farms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJpxaWR2J-c

3.  Peter Willes (one of the directors of Nocton Dairies Ltd) talking to Peter Levy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vez1Kh4qVts
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