Regime change

Willes case adjourned

'NOCTON Dairies director Peter Willes is due to appear before magistrates in April to face three charges brought by the Environment Agency, after a hearing scheduled for this week was adjourned.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/willes-case-adjourned/37559.article

Peter Willes, the slurry lagoon and Torridge District Council

Peter Willes is a busy man.  I see he is still battling to obtain permission for his oversized slurry lagoon at Sedborough Farm, Parkham, Devon.  The new retrospective application is being considered by Torridge District Council planning officers under reference 1/1110/2010/FULM (it appears the previous retrospective application 10/0130/2010/FULM for a slurry lagoon and channel was refused permission by TDC).

If you wish to view the revised documentation, Torridge District Council planning applications can be located here: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1047. The eight-week period for there to be a decision expires on 21st March 2011.

Click on the 'Terms and Conditions' bullet "I agree" at the bottom of the page and this will take you to the 'Public Access' page. In the left hand column, click on "Planning" and then on "Application Search", enter the planning reference above and there you will find the application mentioned, with all the relevant documentation.

It seems Mr Willes is never out of the limelight... but perhaps that's one of the downsides of being a pioneer of the UK intensive dairy industry.

Trailer sheds its load of manure onto pub

'The tractor and trailer came from Willes Farming Ltd of Parkham.'

http://www.bidefordpeople.co.uk/news/Trailer-sheds-load-manure-pub/story-10345636-detail/story.html

Nocton Dairy

'As you will have heard, the application for 3770 cows was withdrawn with recommendations to refuse. We want rural employment, but the question remains as to whether it is possible for an intensive operation on this scale to occur in rural communities without risk of serious damage to the environment. We wait to see.'

Councillor Marianne Overton (March 2011 Newsletter)

NFU responds to new Government planning regime

'The importance of food production and the rural economy must be fully recognised in the new National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF), the NFU said today.'

http://www.farminguk.com/news/NFU-responds-to-new-Government-planning-regime_20007.html

Dairy farmers set for water inspections changes

'Dairy farmers are set to be exempt from costly inspections on their water supplies.'

http://www.farminguk.com/news/Dairy-farmers-set-for-water-inspections-changes_19990.html
_______________________________________________________