Caring for the environment

New Parliamentary group will promote green farming

 'MPS and peers of all parties have come together to promote environmentally friendly farming as the solution to the global food security problem.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/business/business-news/new-parliamentary-group-will-promote-green-farming/37482.article

The 5 steps to managing a grass rotation

'The cost of keeping cows inside could make many producers think more seriously about getting more from grazed grass this season.'

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2011/02/25/125689/The-5-steps-to-managing-a-grass-rotation.htm

Arla Foods faces ACRID resistance to proposed plant

'Less than two weeks after Nocton Dairies scrapped plans to establish the UK's biggest dairy herd, Arla Foods' plans to build the world's largest fresh milk plant are coming under pressure as local residents prepare to battle Arla with an £80,000 war chest.'

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=216257

Super-dairies are best way to farm 'Olympic athletes'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/letters/Super-dairies-best-way-farm-Olympic-athletes/article-3275839-detail/article.html

The drip, drip, drip of debate about the Nocton Dairy debacle continues unabated it seems. This letter of support for the plan is a tad late though.

It is well documented that the applicants withdrew their application because of major environmental concerns. Even if it had progressed to Planning Committee, the local planning officers were minded to recommend refusal on a number of grounds:

1. Failure of the applicant to fully assess alternative sites which presented fewer environmental risks
2. The unacceptable and significant risk to groundwater quality because of the sensitive aquifer beneath the site chosen for development
3. Uncertainties regarding impacts from odour and spreading digestate
4. Insufficient detail regarding operational noise
5. Potential impacts on Sites of Special Scientific Interest and local Wildlife Sites
6. Insufficient justification for construction of on-site agricultural workers houses.

This application was not overturned by animal welfare concerns (as these are not a planning consideration). It was overturned by objections from the Environment Agency (as a specialist consultee).

Hopefully, the applicants and their supporters will now accept this particular site was unsuitable for the intensive dairy they had in mind... and everyone can finally get closure from it all.

Nocton Parish Council

There is the normal monthly Parish Council meeting tonight in the Village Hall at 7.00pm, if you are interested in attending.

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