Lincs FM
I was pleased to see that two of my three questions were selected during the Lincs FM event on Wednesday evening (5th January), which were:
1. It is interesting to note that land owned by Blankney Estates no longer features for the spreading of digestate - why exactly is that?
2. Nocton Fen Farms Ltd land is being used for spreading your digestate and there is already planning permission for a digester on that site - what discussions have you had with Mr Robert Beck concerning this facility?
I must admit to having been intrigued as to why Blankney Estates and Patrick Dean Ltd had pulled out of the intended land sharing role with Nocton Dairies Ltd.
Mr Willes kindly clarified that for us - telling us that the http://www.38degrees.org.uk/ lobby group had been very successful in getting these two businesses to reconsider their position. Mr Willes then went on to clarify his relationship with Nocton Fen Farms Ltd.
His comment that “we will probably be integrating our businesses in the future – either he will buy into the dairy, or we will buy into his business” was a revelation and drew an audible gasp from the audience.
It now explains why Nocton Fen Farms Ltd features so highly in the revised application. It was also stated that the build of the anaerobic digester on Nocton Fen will start later this year. It will be interesting to see how the proposed pipeline from Nocton Heath to Wasp's Nest fits into these plans.
Now we have this snippet of information on the radar, perhaps we can do more research into the implications for the local community and surrounding area.
It may be appropriate to lobby Mr Robert Beck and his company. If his permission to make land available to Nocton Dairies Ltd was to be withdrawn because of the strength of public feeling, it could affect their potential plans, considering the huge dependency on land to spread digestate.
All that remains is for Lincs FM to broadcast the programme. We can then listen to it again... to dissect the content for useful quotes in the future.
I can also have another laugh as I listen again to the Chairperson (Alan Robson) addressing me as a 'lady' in the audience. Readers to note, I have since had my haircut!
More on Anaerobic Digestion
If you have been looking through the Nocton Dairies Ltd planning application, you may have seen a leaflet for a potential supplier of the anaerobic digestion units - UTS Biogas.
However, during the Lincs FM event at Branston on Wednesday evening, I was somewhat surprised to hear Mr Willes say that they had not yet decided on the supplier.
This seems quite odd to me. Surely planners would want to know the exact unit that is likely to be constructed, otherwise how can they begin to consider the implications of the application in its entirety?
You may like to visit the website of that supplier - there is a useful video graphic of how a digester and combined heat plant actually functions.
http://www.uts-biogas.com/index.php?id=1059
If you want to see another video of anaerobic digestion, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZH19oxJ27w
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I also attended the Branston meeting - and was surprised to hear that Mr Willes was unsure of several issues relating to his planning application. I think if I was borrowing £32 million pounds, I might make myself familiar with what it was actually going to buy!
ReplyDeleteI urge everyone to listen to the Lincs FM broadcast - you will find many interesting 'snippets'. No matter how it is edited, the overall feeling in the room was that this factory farm does not belong here (in fact, if the American buffer zone rule was applied in the UK, it certainly would not be allowed here - we just aren't big enough)
Julie
It does not surprise me at all that Mr Willes doesn't know what he has doing ... I think that has been obvious from the start ... I won't repeat all my previous statements on their incompetence, but I think a key aspect is that this is a man who can't stop incidents of pollution on his existing, small-scale farms - so how can we possibly trust him to run a US model mega dairy whilst deliberately omitting key factors such as setback distances from local homes.
ReplyDeleteI attended the meeting and was shocked at the ineptitude of Mr Willes. It was actually people in the audience, many of whom seemed to be expert on farming matters, that answered questions for him.
ReplyDeleteWhat I could not believe were the changes of information which differed dramatically from what had been stated at previous meetings.
I felt sorry for his PR lady. I have never seen anyone squirm so much with what seemed to me to be embarrasment at some of the comments returned to the audience by Mr Willes. That said she has to live with her conscience and no one forced her take on the job.
I just wish that those sitting on the planning board of NKDC had been present to witness such a performance. At least they will hear it on Lincs FM who should be praised for raising the debate. I thought that the adjudicator did an excellent job.
The revelation about Robert Beck was staggering. One thing for sure, the cat is now out of the bag. Further investigation is warranted.
David Reay