‘Unprecedented’ response to Nocton Dairies plan
'OVER 14,000 people have formally objected to Nocton Dairies’ plans to build a ‘super dairy’ in Lincolnshire.'
http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/hot-topics/super-dairies/‘unprecedented’-response-to-nocton-dairies-plan/36519.article
There is much huff and bluff about the statements incorporated in the CAFFO leaflet and its influence, yet only 5,000 were issued to the local community. The number that have actually been returned will be much less of course.
Considering that over 50,000 people signed the 38 Degrees campaign, with over 14,000 people submitting formal responses objecting to the plans (many people taking the trouble to research the issue first and then submit personal letters), then surely it is possible to see there is a huge public outcry against this style of farming in the UK, not all of it instigated by CAFFO.
As I've said in this blog before, there is a much wider debate required about the implications of large industrial-style dairy units. This must take place before we rush headlong into allowing 'super-dairies' to dominate the UK countryside, alongside mega pig and poultry units too.
The proposed Nocton Dairy development is too soon, too close to a fragile aquifer, too near local villages and too big for the land owned by the applicants (as this is insufficient for the safe disposal of the effluent that would be generated).
If you really want to see the reason why there is pressure to industrialise milk production, read the following article. It is nothing at all to do with world shortages of food.
Supermarket price war fuels fear for farmers
'Pressure is mounting on the government to speed up plans for a retail watchdog amid fears that farmers will bear the brunt of a supermarket price war.'
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2011/01/13/125023/Supermarket-price-war-fuels-fear-for-farmers.htm
Nocton Parish Council
I have been given permission to post the local Parish Council response for you to read.
Nocton Parish Council letter to NKDC
My own submission
As my own contribution has now been accepted and posted out into the public domain, if you wish to read my objection to the Nocton Dairies planning application, click here:
Objection_Development of Nocton Dairy
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The response from Nocton Parish Council has to be commended. They seem to fully understand the immense problems attributed to this planning proposal. Well done to them!
ReplyDeleteOn another note; I see that public opinion against factory dairies is growing. The public at large seem to be well informed and ready to fight against this sort of industrialised business.
I am now of the opinion that the applicants Mr Barnes and Willes will have to be very mindful for the future. Once the public at large sees that smaller industrialised dairies exist in Devon and Lancashire but are portrayed with images of cows in fields, the public may start to protest against these businesses. The same goes for the banks who according to Mr Willes are fully supporting this venture. The clydesdale bank for example apparently backed this venture without even looking at the possible environmental impacts. I wonder which other backers actually investigated the business model before offering finance. It would be nice to know so that the public at large could make their feelings heard.
I have been looking at the NKDC site and there are some excellent responses and objections. Points are raised on some issues that I had not even thought about. I suggest the same goes for the experts that Mr Willes and Barnes have relied upon! I look forward with relish to seeing the response from Nocton Dairies P.R. consultant on the many issues related to the objections. The current line of "its just a bigger farm" does not wash and is not true. The venture has to be classified as industrial on scale which implies factory which in turn means "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation"
Finally. I would like to have another live debate on radio or even better T.V. Then the public at large could make up their own mind as to whether they would employ Mr Willes.
David Reay
the reason that some of the parish council have made good understanding of the dairy is because they are protesting about it. they have only gone onto the parish council so that they can block the dairy and get away with putting up these stupid banners all over the village. i thought the parish council should give the view of the whole village and not just their own friends
ReplyDeleteIt is quite a serious allegation you make about our local Parish Councillors. If you feel so strongly about this matter, surely the proper place to air your grievance is to raise it at the next Parish Council meeting, instead of hiding behind an Anonymous comment on a blog.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, Parish Councils evolve and change over the years to reflect the changing nature of the local community and people living in it.
With the local Parish Council elections due in May this year, all residents will have the right to vote for their candidate(s) of choice, or even stand for election themselves.
In the event though, I wonder how many residents will actually be prepared to give up their valuable time in an unpaid position, to serve the local community?
Dear anonymous (not willing to stand up and be counted when you try to defame people?) Speaking for myself, I've now been on the Parish Council for several years - yonks before the concept of a mega dairy was a twinkle in Willes' and Barnes' eyes ... so, factually inaccurate, and therefore the defence of 'fair comment' flies out of the window ... Do your research ...
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to represent the majority view of the village of Nocton - if anyone can prove to me that most people in Nocton favour the dairy by Wednesday 19th, I'll be pleased - as acting Chair - to put it to the Council that we amend our objection accordingly.
I'm not sure I fully understand the point that "anonymous" is making. However, on the assumption that I am probably one of the members of the Parish Council to whom s/he is referring, I would like to respond. I decided to stand for election to the Parish Council because I care deeply about the village where my wife and I have chosen to make our home. I also hoped that my 35 years of local government experience might be of some benefit to the Council. I did not seek co-option onto the Council in October but stood for election. Since no-one else decided to stand against me, I was elected.
ReplyDeleteOf course, despite "anonymous's" comment, the Parish Council has no powers whatsoever to "block the dairy". This is a District Council decision. As a "statutory consultee", however, the Parish Council submitted a response which was agreed by all seven Parish Councillors (four of whom are long-standing).
Anyway, only time will tell if "anonymous" is correct, as those whom s/he thinks only came onto the Parish Council to oppose the Dairy will, presumably, not bother to stand again at the elections in May!
Councillor Ian Goldsworthy
While I am aware that there are many people in the village like myself who support concept of the dairy, but dont shout about it. It does not help either side in posting anonymous comments and criticising people or there motives. I do hope that all the new parish councillers remain on the parish council after the dairy issue has gone away. They all have much to offer the village as Ian said, and their motives are entirely honourable. Deborah while i respect your views on the dairy, I do hope you will independent next Wednesday and not let your personal views overshadow your role as chair.
ReplyDeletewe will wait and see how many do stay, it would have been the right thing to actually do a survey of the village and see how many are for and against. and i think you will find that a lot of people do give up a lot of their time for free in this village and have done so for many years in other ways
ReplyDeleteI have been contacted by Councillor MaryAnn Williams and asked to post the following:
ReplyDelete'Anonymous
As one of the newer members on the Parish Council I would like to confirm that I too stood for election and was returned unopposed.
However I am sure that everyone who has attended any of the Parish Meetings for the past two and a half years will have recognized me as being a “regular” in the public gallery – sometimes the only public in the public gallery! Way before any of us had even heard of Mega Farms and CAFO’s.
If “anonymous” would like to contact me privately or perhaps post the arguments for this proposal I guarantee we would all be interested. To date nothing and nobody has been able to change my personal opinion.
Finally, I will definitely be seeking a place on the Parish Council for a full term in May and working with everyone to see that the village remains the place where we all want to live and so desirable there is a waiting list for people trying to move in!
MaryAnn Williams'
i do agree with chris hewitt on the topic that Mrs Wilson must remain indepentent, and put aside the fact that she fully supports caffro.
ReplyDeleteLooking at some of the responses above, it seems some of my readers have assumed that Councillor Deborah Wilson will be Chairing the Nocton Dairy meeting on the 19th... when this is not actually the case. I understand there has been an independent Chair appointed for this particular meeting.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the Parish Council, in absence of a Chairperson (as Councillor Storr tendered her resignation at the last meeting), then the Vice-Chair becomes acting Chair by default, until someone else is appointed.
As someone who strongly opposes all factory farming, including the proposed US-style megadairy, I have been following developments in your village. I have highlighted this issue in my blog, and have signed various online petitions (using my real name of course).
ReplyDeleteTo Geoff and all other residents of Nocton who object to this megadairy, I wish you all the best in stopping this. I also hope that your local District Council will reject this megadairy proposal once and for all.
@Anonymous - You say there should be a survey of the village. I am sure you will agree that such a survey would need to be representative and unbiased. What would you say, if this proposed survey showed the residents of Nocton to be against this US-style megadairy?
The Glob
if it was done in an unbiased way then whatever the result we would have to all be adult enough to accept the outcome and move on and to get on with bringing the village together and accept each others oppions
ReplyDeleteChris - you know you don't respect my views - you've made that clear on a number of occasions... but I have refused to give in to any attempts to intimidate me into silence - and perhaps that has earned some reluctant respect. My colleagues, neighbours and fellow councillors know I would have been objective as a chair, decades of having to put my personal views to one side as a BBC broadcaster and journalist have ingrained that in me, along with a lifelong commitment to democratic debate, but it was my choice to cede the seat to another who is well respected by all in the village and I know will do a terrific job.
ReplyDeleteChris.I find it somewhat hypocritical to make the comment about hoping Deborah 'will be independent in her position as chair' at the Nocton meeting on Wednesday since, unless I have missed an issue, I am still waiting for an 'against' article in the Nocton parish magazine you edit.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of the Church of England I am of the firm opinion that any publication linked to the church should always remain fair and unbaised in its outlook. Whatever your personal views, or indeed mine, this forum is not the place for promoting anything other than a fair and well-balanced argument. If it needed to be done at all, a 'for' and 'against' article in the same publication would have done just that. The way it has been done might be construed as intimating that the 'church' supports the dairy.
Finally, I have lived in this village for many years and would like to thank Nocton Parish Coucil for the work they do. As with most things, people are slow to thank but quick to criticise, although not necessarily willing to take on the often thankless job that being a councillor entails. I have every confidence in the meeting being held in a mature and respectful manner. From what I have seen and heard over the last year (and I have read a great deal on this topic from both sides!), the people concerned in fighting this proposal are not the ones who need reminding about respect, responsibilty, openness, integrity and community cohesion.
There has been no 'for' or 'against' view of the dairy in the parish magazine. There was an article submitted by a village couple based on their own private visit to a large dairy farm. At this point it is the only such article submitted. It is not my view or the view of the church, those who try to suggest that are being rather sparing with the truth. If you have visited a similar farm and would care to put your own observations on paper please feel free to submit them. At this point in time no-one has!!!
ReplyDeleteI do believe the Nocton parish mag has been extremely neutral compared to other simliar magazines in the area.