Planning application - Branston Solar Park

Public Consultation

You may like to know there are plans to extend the solar panel 'farm' on the approach to Branston. If you wish to comment on these proposals, there is the opportunity to do so at www.branstonsolarextensionlimited.co.uk/index.html

You can also view and comment on the full planning application on the North Kesteven District Council website. The details are as follows:

Planning Ref: 17/1546/FUL
Installation of solar park, accesses and associated infrastructure

Location: Land Between Mere Road And Sleaford Road, Branston, LN4 1NJ
Applicant: Branston Solar Extension Ltd

Case Officer: Steve Watson
Consultation Expiry Date: 27 Nov 2017
Determination Deadline: 22 Jan 2018

Update - 15th Feb 2018
It looks like this application is set to be successful, according to this report in The Lincolnite.

All Saints Church - parents

All Saints Church, Branston

All Saints Church - exhibition

‘Landscapes: a particular kind of fiction’

Sunday September 18th to Monday October 24th

If you’re looking for something inspirational to do this autumn, visit the outdoor exhibition of Phil Cosker’s extraordinary photographs along the Spires and Steeples Arts and Heritage Trail.

The six giant photos will be sited in the grounds of six village churches, along the trail from Branston to Rowston.  So if you’re feeling energetic you could walk or cycle between them, or if less energetic, you could simply drive.

This unique outdoor event is part of three exhibitions of Cosker’s photographic work. The images were created using a Thornton Pickard ‘Imperial’ half-plate bellows camera found in a second-hand shop, and a set of un-exposed plates discovered in a cupboard in the Hull School of Art and Design. Cosker has used them to create images that capture an extraordinary sense of volume and space, an ‘imagination of passing time and place’.

The six exhibition sites are at: All Saints Branston, All Saints Nocton, St Peter’s Dunston, St Oswald’s Blankney, Holy Cross Scopwick and St Clement’s Rowston. A single large image, 8ft by 10ft, will be displayed outdoors at each venue, so you can visit at any time of day. Some of the churches may also be open for you to explore. Branston and Nocton churches will be open on Friday afternoons, from 2.00 to 4.00pm each week.

Meanwhile you can also take the opportunity to enjoy exploring six fascinating Lincolnshire villages, or have lunch at a village pub or tea at a local café along the way.

If you’re taking to the trail on a Wednesday or Thursday, you could stop also off for refreshments at the Bluebell Community Café at Potterhanworth. You’ll find them at St Andrew’s Church. They’re open from 9.00am to 5.00pm, and offer a delicious range of home-made soups, sandwiches, toasties, scones and cakes.

The exhibition will be launched at All Saints Branston at 12.30pm on Sunday September 18th and will continue until Monday October 24th. You could visit all six sites in one day, or spread your visits over several weeks.

The whole event is being organised by artsNK, a team of visual and performing arts specialists. The team initiates and supports arts projects across the North Kesteven district, Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.

For more information about artsNK go to www.artsnk.org and about the Spires and Steeples Trail go to www.spiresandsteeples.com.

Marianne Overton MBE

November Newsletter

The following email was received early this morning:

"Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

I hope you are well and wish you every success. Please find attached and below my November news. (The attached version has the pictures.)

• Monday 5-7pm Branston Waggon and Horses - How many more houses?
• Tuesday 2pm same venue

A gentle reminder that this is the last chance to comment on the new draft Local Plan. This is the set of rules used to decide if a planning application should get permission or not. It will last until 2036, so a very significant document.

 

Thank you to all who have already responded or attended the consultation events, read my previous newsletter notes or heard me at the Parish Council meetings. I ran a session in Navenby which worked well and would like to offer the same in Branston. One hour from 5pm or 6pm on Monday and 2pm on Tuesday.

 

I will run through the key issues and provide some simple forms which you could fill in there and then or take away to complete on line. The deadline is November 11th, but they will give a day or two grace.

 

It is vital for Branston in particular, as it is currently counted as "servicing Lincoln", which is expected to take half of the proposed new housing. The new housing mentioned ranges from 25,000 to 47,500 in the period of 2011 to 2036. That is a substantial increase. We need to work together to be effective.

 

The official information and response forms are on www.central-lincs.org.uk

 

My comments are on www.lincolnshireindependnets.org.uk under news
Respond to talkplanning@central-lincs.org.uk and copy to me to help me better represent you.

Kind Regards,

Marianne

Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
Independent Councillor for Branston and Navenby on Lincolnshire County Council and for the Cliff Villages on North Kesteven District Council
Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents
Vice Chairman of the Local Government Associationwww.independentvoice.org.uk"

Wind Farm

UK's wind farm 'folly': Electric bills to soar by £1000 thanks to reliance on wind power

'The green crusade of successive governments is set to double electricity bills for households and cost homes £26billion a year by 2030, it was claimed yesterday.'

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/522800/Wind-farms-blamed-for-winter-power-cut-and-rise-energy-bills

Branston solar farm reduced in size

'A solar farm of about 80,000 panels, close to a Lincolnshire village, has been approved. A spokesman for Inazin said they had planned for a larger facility but local power infrastructure could not cope.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-29665458

Wind farms outstrip nuclear power

'The UK's wind farms generated more power than its nuclear power stations on Tuesday, the National Grid says. The energy network operator said it was caused by a combination of high winds and faults in nuclear plants.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29715796

Germany's green power surges ahead - at a price that's finally falling

'Germany's transition to a renewable power system is on track, writes Gert Brunekreeft. But it's costing households €218 a year in surcharges, causing voter enthusiasm to wane.'

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2603719/germanys_green_power_surges_ahead_at_a_price_thats_finally_falling.html

Taxpayer handouts to fund large-scale solar farms to be axed

'TAXPAYER-funded handouts to subsidise large-scale solar farms are being axed, Environment Secretary Liz Truss announced yesterday.'

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/524824/Taxpayer-handouts-fund-large-scale-solar-farms-axed

Wind Farm

Nocton Fen - Exploring the Wind Energy Potential

The following newsletter arrived yesterday in my Inbox:

"E-newsletter 6



Reminder: Information sessions start this week

Information sessions will be held this week and next week as follows:

- Thurs 19 June: Bardney Village Hall 2pm-7pm
- Fri 20 June: Nocton Village Hall 2pm-8pm
- Sat 21 June: Branston Village Hall 10am-4pm
- Thurs 26 June: Metheringham Village Hall 2pm-7.30pm
- Fri 27 June: Dunston Village Hall 2pm-8pm
- Sat 28 June: Potterhanworth Memorial Hall 10am-4pm

Get others involved

We want to keep as many people as informed as possible as the project progresses. Please encourage others to sign up to receive e-newsletter updates like this one here.

Vattenfall in the UK

To find out more about us and some of our other projects in the UK visit: www.penycymoeddwindfarm.info and http://swinfordwindfarm.vattenfall.co.uk"

Wind Farm

Leaflet

This Vattenfall leaflet dropped through my letterbox this morning:

Wind Farm

Vattenfall News

I received this e-newsletter earlier today:

Nocton Fen - Exploring the Wind Energy Potential - E-newsletter 5

Information sessions in June

 

We will hold the next round of information sessions towards the end of June as follows:

• Thurs 19 June: Bardney Village Hall [2pm-7pm]
• Fri 20 June: Nocton Village Hall [2pm-8pm]
• Sat 21 June: Branston Village Hall [10am-4pm]
• Thurs 26 June: Metheringham Village Hall [2pm-7.30pm]
• Fri 27 June: Dunston Village Hall [2pm-8pm]
• Sat 28 June: Potterhanworth Memorial Hall [10am-4pm]

At these events you will be able to find out more about our early assessment work. There will be preliminary visuals available, including a 3D visualisation of what a potential wind development would look like. We will be asking you for your views and feedback at the sessions. We look forward to seeing you.

Last chance to register for the visit to Swinford Wind Farm

  

This is your last chance to register for the visit to Swinford Wind Farm in Leicestershire on 17th May, please RSVP here. There were many requests at the last information sessions for the chance to visit a wind farm and understand some of the key issues.

 

At the visit you will also get the chance to speak with local people from the neighbouring communities about their experiences through development, construction and operation of the wind farm.
 
An update from Graham the Project Manager

    

We have had a busy few months and are continuing our pre-assessment work onsite, including noise and wind resource monitoring, ecology and ornithology.

 

We also gave a presentation recently to North Kesteven District Council. You can see the presentation we gave here under 'more information'. We hope you found the last fact sheets useful. More will be available soon.

Get others involved

  

We want to keep as many people as informed as possible as the project progresses. Please encourage others to sign up to receive e-newsletter updates like this one here.

Vattenfall in the UK

    

To find out more about us and some of our other projects in the UK visit: www.penycymoeddwindfarm.info and http://swinfordwindfarm.vattenfall.co.uk.

You are receiving this newsletter as you have registered your interest in Nocton Fen. To unsubscribe email us.

 

Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd, Abbey Warehouse, Abbey Slip, Penzance, TR18 4AR

T 0800 3777348, E noctonfen@vattenfall.com  www.vattenfall.co.uk/noctonfen

 

Wind Farm issues in the news recently

Wind Farms Severely Harmful to Wildlife, New Study Finds

'A new study from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, combining an impressive six hundred other studies, describes the severe effects wind turbines can have on wildlife.'

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/05/08/Wind-Farms-Severely-Harmful-to-Wildlife-New-Study-Finds

The beauty of windfarms – in pictures

'Though Australia's treasurer, Joe Hockey, says wind turbines are 'utterly offensive' and a 'blight on the landscape', the towering masts with their slowly turning blades can inspire awe. Here is a roundup of images from around the world celebrating the windfarms that help to power our way of life '

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2014/may/02/the-beauty-of-windfarms-in-pictures

UK 'has already approved enough green energy to hit targets’

'Wind, solar, biomass and other renewable energy projects that are built or have planning consent will be enough to meet EU targets, report claims.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/10797041/UK-has-already-approved-enough-green-energy-to-hit-targets.html

Analysis of Operating Wind Farms 2014

The second EWEA technology workshops on the analysis of operating wind farms - 9-10 December 2014, Malmö, Sweden. To be kept informed about workshop developments please fill-in the following form:

http://www.ewea.org/events/workshops/operational-assessment-2014/

Marianne Overton MBE

May News for Branston to Dunston

The following email was received this morning:

"Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Below without pictures and attached with pictures is my May news. Hope you find it of interest!
Just off to the Navenby Mayday Event – great weather!

Kindest regards,
Marianne
Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
Independent Councillor for Branston and Navenby on Lincolnshire County Council
and for the Cliff Villages on North Kesteven District Council
Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents
Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association
www.independentvoice.org.uk"

New homes

Branston 'cannot cope with new homes'

'Villagers are fighting against a proposed housing development they say local roads and services would be unable to cope with.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-25806098

New planning for 42,800 homes in central Lincolnshire begins

'Central Lincolnshire Core Strategy to be replaced by Local Plan.'

http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/New-plan-42-800-homes-central-Lincolnshire/story-20405559-detail/story.html

Silence of the plans risks building horror story

'... wherever local plans are “absent, silent, indeterminate or where relevant policies are out of date” councils will be required to approve any development as long as developers can claim the adverse impacts will not “significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in this Framework taken as a whole” '

http://www.cpre.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news-releases/item/2556-silence-of-the-plans-risks-building-horror-story

It appears the warning from the CPRE should have been heeded. Any District or Parish Council without a Core Strategy or Local Plan is clearly vulnerable to the 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' guidance promoted by the National Planning Policy Framework.

Nocton Parish Council has picked up on this fact and has already approached Potterhanworth Parish Council to work in partnership on a local plan for our villages. The sooner the better it seems, if Branston's experience is anything to go by.

Three Campaigns

Email from Councillor Marianne Overton

'Dear Friends and Colleagues,

3 Campaigns: Branston Library, Core strategy and Wind turbines

I hope you are well. Three things have arrived together, not unconnected. The Core strategy is a development plan for Central Lincolnshire which increases housing, stretching public services and encourages wind turbines. Hopefully we can do a bit to have our say in the decision-making.

Branston Library
560 people signed the petition to keep Branston Library. It has over 40,000 people walking through its doors each year, about one every two minutes, 35 per hour. The County Council Executive is proposing to close this gateway to the world unless volunteers take it on, which would be pretty difficult long term.

The Council has a meeting for all councillors to discuss the issue at 2pm in the Council Chamber on 22nd November, open to the public. The Executive is then making their final decision on December 3rd, also in public. There was a debate at full council last meeting which is available on the web.
Can you come along on Saturday 30th November noon in Branston library to show you care?

A readathon  works really well. Watch or join in a line winding round their library and taking turns to read a favourite piece. For the Branston Businesses section, it could be a piece about your business from the web, available via the library. Hats and character costumes optional. Can you come along? It would be designed to catch the press so that we can demonstrate the strength of local feeling on the matter. It would also fit in just before Branston's Christmas bazaar.

Please come along and join the campaign. Please ask your friends along too, poster attached. Having got everyone there, we can raise a bit of funds to send through Rotary to the Philippines disaster fund.

For the two campaigns below, I am available in the morning of the 30th November in Branston library from 11am if you would like to submit a comment or add support. Alternatively, you can e-mail or post comments to me.

Massive House-building
Branston Church Hall was packed recently for a meeting called by “Save Branston Village” Campaign.  Residents were very concerned about proposals for building hundreds more houses at Branston, without adequate money for infrastructure, such as roads and services such as libraries, nor enough jobs.

There was also concern about the added traffic congestion and pressure on local services, such as doctors and school places which will be further stretched as public funding continues to shrink. Branston submitted 32 petitions which I am submitting to the Joint planning Unit for their next meeting. I did put a motion to full Council, raising on the matter, which you can see on Lincolnshire county council podcast, September meeting at 4 hours.34 mins.

Wind Turbines
You may have heard of a new application for very large turbines in Nocton/Dunston Fen. I was called to a public meeting recently to hear resident’s concerns and there is a further meeting on Sunday. Please let me know if you would like to be consulted.

The Core Strategy is at fault here in that it sets a target for 60% of our energy to come from renewable sources, when the rest of the country is on 10/15%, making us a target.

Lastly, my new computer has been in repair for a few weeks now, which has caused my e-mails to back up and temporarily block on the Biosearch address. The cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk is working fine. Apologies for the inconvenience. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards,
Marianne
Cllr Marianne Overton
Independent County and District Councillor for Navenby and Branston District and the Cliff Villages
Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents
01400 273323 www.independentvoice.org.uk'

Footnote:
You will have to contact Marianne for more information about her public meetings regarding the wind turbines as no further details were supplied.

Weekend Events

Great time had by all

It is nice to report another successful weekend for Nocton.

The Coronation Diamond Jubilee Concert was well attended in All Saints Church on Saturday evening. I have been advised that the Banovallum Brass Band were extremely good. If someone would like to do a formal report on this evening of entertainment, I would be happy to post this on the blog.

The 'Big Lunch' on The Green was also a great success with many families and friends turning out for a sunny afternoon of festivity. The village games were well frequented, 'Gone to the Dogs' provided a great session of folk music and 'Liam's Sword Dancers' entertained.

The Coronation Coach was on display once again in All Saints Church and viewed by many visitors. Refreshments were also available.

'The Plough Play' was performed by Mr Murderie's Players, Branston's very own amateur theatre company. You may recognise a couple of familiar faces in the cast, with not so familiar garb.

There were many winners of the raffle, with the prestige prize being a Dyson Ball vacuum cleaner kindly donated by Sir James. If anyone can let me have a list of the winner's names and prizes, again I will be happy to post these on the blog.

Thanks to all those who had an involvement in organising the two events - it was appreciated by many local residents.

A few photos from 'The Big Lunch' below:

John and Jane Kania... or is it Jane and John Kania??

'The Plough Play'

'Gone to the Dogs'

Flower Festival

Lords of the Manor

'The Lords of the Manor of Nocton and their Times'

Happy New Year to you all - may I wish you a healthy and fruitful year.

I thought I would open 2013 with a flourish. As many of you will know, I have been cataloguing all of Mrs Sheila Redshaw's historical material appertaining to our village of Nocton. As one of the final tasks, I decided to record electronically the handwritten draft of a book that has never been published before. It has taken many months to type up the work, but the finished item can now be located here: 'The Lords of the Manor of Nocton and their Times' by John Eagle.

The handwritten draft has been in the possession of the Ireson family for many years and latterly was donated to Mrs Redshaw (in order for this to be added to her collection).

All of Sheila’s archive material has since been donated to the Parish Council for the benefit of the residents of Nocton in perpetuity. The manuscript book is now catalogued under Ref. No.66 should you wish to view the original.

Somewhat appropriately, the following text was discovered in what appear to be the author's working papers – and I feel this is a super introduction, should you choose to read the book:

“Except upon a very limited, and, I think, unsatisfactory scale, there is not enough authenticated material available to make a complete survey of the biographies of the Lords of the Manor of Nocton possible. Therefore, in order to gain the end I desire, I have employed duly accredited documentary evidence principally as a guide, and adapted to suit the plan upon which I based this story, so that it has become partly factual and partly fictitious.

I have tried to limit the influence of my imagination so that it remains within the strict confines of what is possible and what is probable. Thus I have endeavoured to be scrupulous in first observing the facts, and then studying the implications arising from the facts, and from those resources I have drawn my own interpretation of events. In doing so I have continuously recognised the unmistakeable fact that I could be wrong”

Finally, I believe the author would have liked to see his draft being made available for others to read, rather than being left stored in a box, never to see the light of day. Enjoy, I hope you find it interesting, I did.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

British Sugar

There seems to have been a rise in heavy goods vehicles using the village of late, many of which are tankers from British Sugar.  There are also other tankers (WG Tanker Hire - http://www.wgtanker.com/hiretankers.html) which may also be contracted by British Sugar and delivering to the depot at Bardney.

I seem to remember in previous years, we encountered a similar increase in heavy traffic at this time of year... and can only assume it is to do with the beet harvest and subsequent sugar production at Newark. I think this was raised with the British Sugar Bardney depot a couple of years ago and we were told the old sugar beet factory is now used for storage and repacking of product, hence the requirement for tanker deliveries of sugar.

Branston Potatoes

We also seem to be having a few more of these heavy goods vehicles as well, although the reason for this is less clear. One can only assume they are coming through from the A158 at Wragby to get to the depot at Branston.

Rase Distribution

Heavy goods vehicles from this company also use this route to and from their Bardney depot, but generally these appear quite randomly rather than in a compressed period, such as the British Sugar tankers.

Construction Traffic

There have also been a number of vehicles supplying materials for the new anaerobic digester site at Wasp's Nest. However, as the construction of this site appears to be nearing completion, the heavy goods traffic may cease before too long.

Speed

Whilst the local firms who use the route all year round are sensitive (in the main) to the village, by keeping the speed down and negotiating the 90 degree bends with due care, the same can't be said for the contract drivers of some other heavy vehicles. With many of the local children and parents navigating the narrow pavements to attend school, it can be quite nerve-racking when these juggernauts pass by with little room to spare.

Perhaps this should be raised with the Parish Council in order that a timely reminder can be considered for all Transport Managers?
_________________________________________________________

Farming Programme

Lincs FM

The farming programme this morning featured extracts from the Nocton Dairies debate, recorded in Branston on Wednesday evening 5th January.

Sean Dunderdale and Sally Elkington gave a flavour of the recording between 0700 - 0730hrs... on topics of housing, employment and the concept of the 'super-dairy'.

There will be more in-depth coverage being broadcast tonight on Lincs FM between 2200 and 2300hrs.

The programme will then be made available as a podcast so you can listen to it again if you so wish.

The presenter mentioned that it was a very interesting evening with many intelligent questions; that it was a shame this had not been done a few months ago.

[You may like to know that the local campaign group CAFFO had in fact arranged a very similar 'Question Time' event many weeks ago.  It was a huge disappointment when Nocton Dairies Ltd decided to withdraw before this could take place.]

Tuesday 11th January 2011 is the last day for submitting your comments on the planning application (10/1397/FUL) to North Kesteven District Council.
_______________________________________________________

Lincs FM in Branston

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
_______________________________________________________

Lincs FM

Nocton Dairy Debate

You may be interested in attending this debate, or submitting questions for the forum but the time deadline for this is very tight, although not too late.

Nocton Dairies Ltd do not appear to have advertised this event on their website, nor in the local area, which is a real shame and a missed opportunity to engage with the local community.

With the planning application presently in the consultation phase, I'm sure many local people would have jumped at the chance to submit questions or even attend.

The following is the extract from Lincs FM:

'It's been one of the most controversial stories of 2010, now a debate's taking place between opposing sides over plans for a so called super dairy at Nocton in Lincolnshire.

The debate is taking place at the Branston Community College on Wednesday Jan 5th 2011 and is being recorded by Lincs FM for broadcast as part of a special edition of the Farming Programme, the following weekend.

Only questions received in advance will be considered for the debate, so email your question to farming@lincsfm.co.uk

Please note, questions will not be shown to the panel in advance and the debate chairman, Lincolnshire's Agricultural Chaplain Alan Robson, will decide which questions will be chosen on the evening.

Doors will open at 6.30pm on Wed, Jan 5th. Seating is limited and entry will be on a first come basis and can not be guaranteed.'

http://www.lincsfm.co.uk/pages/localnews

Nocton Dairies Ltd - report of meeting

Report from Nocton Dairies Liaison Meeting - 23rd September

Well... it seems that's it folks. No more Liaison Group meetings until after the plans have been resubmitted to NKDC by Nocton Dairies.

The draft FactSheet prepared by Nocton Dairies Ltd was not approved by the village attendees... as it was not felt to be their responsibility. As such therefore, it remains an item of 'sales literature' for the proposed dairy, ready to be issued out to residents.

Nocton Dairies were disappointed about there being no Parish Council representation from Dunston and Nocton, but fully intend trying to open communication links with them in future. So it seems not only have Branston declined to get involved with Nocton Dairies, Scopwick Parish Council have not responded, Dunston and Nocton Parish Councils have not bought in to the process either. This just leaves Metheringham and Potterhanworth Parish Councils liaising with Nocton Dairies.

Metheringham Parish Council appear to have indicated they would like to issue the Nocton Dairies FactSheet to their local residents, whereas all other Parish Councils have refused to distribute this literature.

I understand Nocton Dairies intend to hold a 'roadshow' to reach out to residents, but no particular format for this was agreed at the meeting.

So watch out for this FactSheet dropping through your door!

The Big Society is coming to you...

In David Cameron's speech on 10th November 2009, he outlined his thoughts on the size, scope and role of Government.  If you are interested, the weblink below will take you to it, but there are a couple of extracts I'd like to share with you:

"The first step is to redistribute power and control from the central state and its agencies to individuals and local communities.  That way, we can create the opportunity for people to take responsibility. This is absolutely in line with the spirit of the age - the post-bureaucratic age."

Later he goes on to say:

"The second group of people we need to engage in our social action strategy are those I would describe as community activists.

Unlike social entrepreneurs, they do not play a formal role in their communities, they don't have the time or inclination to run a social programme with all the responsibility that involves, but they do want to help. 

Running parents groups, organising beat meetings with the police, getting people together in a front room to discuss ways to improve the neighbourhood.  All this goes on today, but not enough. We need more community activism, and more community activists."

http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/11/David_Cameron_The_Big_Society.aspx

So whether we like it or not... this is the future as the Government sees it, until it is replaced by some other ideology... and already there is a Big Society Network in action, see here:

http://www.thebigsociety.co.uk/idea.html

Will this bring in a new era of people who get involved in trying to improve their local community, or will they continue to expect the State or others to do this for them?  People are always bleating on about their 'Rights' nowadays, but often overlook the 'Responsibilities' that go hand-in-hand with them.

We have seen when communities are faced with possible life-changing issues, that may affect their very value/style of life, that people will rise up and be counted.  Perhaps this is what is happening with the Nocton Dairies application for an intensive dairy on our doorstep?

I like a little phrase that was once quoted to me:

'If you continue to do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got'.  Mmmm.

New right of appeal would give teeth to planning challenges

A public right of appeal in planning would end the costly judicial review process and ensure the delivery of good development.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2010/aug/19/planning-right-of-appeal-cpre

Nocton Dairies Ltd - liaison meeting

Nocton Dairies Liaison Group

Nocton Dairies Ltd have now issued a draft copy of their fact sheet 'A Guide to the Proposals', to members of the Liaison Group, ready for debate and discussion at this evenings meeting.

As the Liaison Group has had little or no time to check out the validity of the information in this dossier, I find it hard to understand how the group will come to some concensus of agreement on the content.  I assume therefore this will purely be a 'sales pitch' of facts about the Nocton Dairy proposals, without any contra arguments as to the suitability of such a venture or accuracy of data about the intended site.

I am also given to understand that a number of the original participants of this Liaison Group (and remember they have only met once), have already decided there is little merit in continuing with this forum.  This doesn't give me much confidence I'm afraid.

As reported on this blog previously, Branston and Nocton Parish Councils have decided not to have anything to do with the Group until after the planning re-application... this leaves just Dunston, Potterhanworth and Metheringham Parish Councils being represented.  If their role is to try and agree this 'A Guide to Proposals' with Nocton Dairies Ltd, I just wonder how they will be able to do this, not being privy to inside knowledge on the preparations and the technical information behind the plans.

It seems Metheringham Parish Council are already intending for this Liaison Group to be discussed at their next meeting.  I have received a message from a Metheringham campaigner as follows:

"I have been informed by the Metheringham Parish Clerk that there will be an item on the agenda re Nocton Daries (sic):
9c To receive a report from members on Nocton Daries Liason Committee Meetings.

The Parish Clerk stated that there will have been two meetings by the date of the Metheringham Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 28 September 2010. As previously mentioned the meeting will be in the Village Hall, Fen Road at 7.30 with a public forum between 7.15 and 7.30 if required.  Perhaps you could let other Metheringham residents know in case they wish to attend."

http://www.macla.co.uk/newsmag/2010/09/metheringham-parish-council-me-8.html

My view is that the Metheringham Parish Councillors working with Nocton Dairies Ltd will have to be very careful not to prejudice themselves when it comes round to their vote on this proposal after the application is resubmitted.  Indeed, this will apply to all Councillors in the same situation, given that it is rumoured that NKDC Solicitors have already briefed local District Councillors in a similar vein.

Dairy UK expects more responsible debate over coming super dairy plans

http://www.dairyreporter.com/Markets/Dairy-UK-expects-more-responsible-debate-over-coming-super-dairy-plans

It's time to rethink means of mass food production

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/letters/s-time-rethink-means-mass-food-production/article-2676292-detail/article.html

New superbug that is spread by farm animals: Doctors raise concern over worrying resistance to antibiotics

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1314424/New-superbug-spread-farm-animals-Concern-resistance-antibiotics.html