Private Eye

Peter Willes pops up again in the Press

Do you remember the campaign against plans to construct an 8,100 cow factory in Nocton?  If so, you might be interested in a recent article published in Private Eye:

The Agri Brigade by 'Bio-Waste Spreader'

'Neighbours of Peter Willes, one of the farmers behind Nocton, are still suffering from the expansion of his existing dairy in Devon where he has built a huge slurry lagoon without planning permission.

When Nocton was proposed Willes already had a history of rule breaking:

• A big fine for "gross pollution" of a tributary of the River Torridge
• A 12-month conditional discharge for "veterinary medicines offences" and
• A retrospective planning application for a large slurry lagoon at Sedborough Farm, Parkham.'

Latest infractions

Although the retrospective planning application for the Sedborough Farm slurry lagoon was granted on 10 December 2012, it included an obligation to incorporate a cover over the lagoon within 3 months of the decision date.  Mr Willes tried to have this condition removed, but failed in his attempt and it seems there is still no sign of a cover having been installed.  The article mentions:

'It is hoped TDC will soon serve a breach of condition notice on Willes, followed by a possible £20,000 fine and a "cease of use" order.'

There is also the matter of another huge slurry lagoon having been constructed without permission at Beckland Farm, near Hartland, Devon.  In this case, Torridge District Council refused a retrospective application from Mr Willes on 6 November 2014, due to an absence of updated information on cow numbers and amount of slurry likely to be produced (the lagoon could hold up to 29,000 cubic metres of waste).

The article concludes:

'Whatever the outcome of Willes' battles with local residents and TDC planners, he is a reminder that, on a crowded island, planning laws to regulate the intensification of dairying need to be strengthened urgently.'

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/index.php

Torridge District Council

You can find the two relevant planning applications on the Torridge District Council planning portal using the references:

1/1110/2010 - Sedborough Farm - application permitted, but with conditions.
1/0046/2012 - Beckland Farm - application refused.

Peter Willes in the news... again

Farmer builds mega slurry lake in protected landscape

'A MASSIVE slurry lagoon has been built without planning consent on farmland near the South West Coast Path.'

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Farmer-builds-mega-slurry-lake-protected/story-15294939-detail/story.html

Nocton farmer in hot water over giant slurry lake

'THE Devon farmer, who was at the forefront of unsuccessful plans to build a large-scale dairy unit at Nocton, now faces another fight on his own doorstep.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/nocton-farmer-in-hot-water-over-giant-slurry-lake/45166.article

If you wish to view this retrospective application, the planning reference is: 1/0046/2012 FULM. It falls under the jurisdiction of Torridge District Council - you can search for it here: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1047.

You may also like to know there is another retrospective application [1/1110/2010 FULM] for a slurry lagoon and channel at Higher Alminstone Farm, which appears to be pending consideration too - it can be viewed on the same website.

For Information

• There is a Plans Committee meeting on 1st March at Torridge District Council (but neither application appears on the Agenda).
• The next Plans Committee meeting is scheduled for 15th March (but the Agenda hasn't yet been published).

Just to demonstrate there is a real alternative to the intensive regime of milking a mega-dairy full of Holsteins.

Shift to simple dairy system breeds profitability

'Less stress, less work and more profit is how Ian Sharman describes life since switching to milking Montbeliardes. Angela Calvert visited him at his farm in Newark to find out more.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/livestock-features/shift-to-simple-dairy-system-breeds-profitability/44747.article
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Prosecution

The Environment Agency have now published their press release following a successful prosecution:

Dairy farm owner fined for slurry pollution

'A North Devon farmer has been ordered to pay £23,190 in fines and costs for flouting environmental regulations.'

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/129553.aspx?month=4&year=2011&coverage=South+West&persona=Prosecution

Nocton director ordered to pay £23,000 over rule breach

'PETER Willes, a director of Nocton Dairies, has been ordered to pay £23,190 in fines and costs for flouting environmental regulations, the Environment Agency announced this week.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/nocton-director-ordered-to-pay-£23000-over-rule-breach/38610.article

Retrospective application for slurry lagoon

The retrospective application for a slurry lagoon and channel at Sedborough Farm, Parkham Ash Parkham Devon EX39 5PS is still pending a decision by Torridge District Council [1/1110/2010/FULM].
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Update on various issues

Nocton Dairies extend offer to update local community

At the time of withdrawing the planning application, Nocton Dairies were not in a position to confirm what their future plans for the Nocton Estate would be. Furthermore, North Kesteven District Council have since refused the planning applications for a reservoir and pipeline.

I believe Nocton Dairies have had a follow-up meeting with the Environment Agency... and are now in a position to meet with selected individuals from the local community "to chat through where things stand and what the current thinking is about the future".

Nocton Dairies have acknowledged there is still some concern locally and hope talking this through will "resolve some of the uncertainty and leave everyone feeling more confident".

If this meeting does go ahead I will endeavour to update my blog accordingly, although I'm sure Nocton Dairies will want to update their website with their "current thinking" for wider publication.

Barnstaple Magistrates Court

It seems Peter Willes, director of Nocton Dairies, is still scheduled to appear before Barnstaple Magistrates Court on 12 April - watch this space for an update.

The original article is here: http://nocton.blogspot.com/2011/03/democracy-in-action.html .

Torridge District Council

I can also report that Torridge District Council are still considering Mr Willes' retrospective planning application for a slurry lagoon and channel (TDC planning ref: 1/1110/2010/FULM).

The local planning authority is "seeking clarification on a number of matters from the applicant's agent and this may require additional information being submitted which will require further consideration".

No date for the planning hearing is yet scheduled, despite the eight-week period expiring on 21st March.

North-west dairy includes bottling plant

'Park Farm at Preesall in Lancashire offers a complete modern dairy complex with cubicle housing for 480 cows, 200 youngstock and its own bottling plant.'

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2011/03/17/125979/North-west-dairy-includes-bottling-plant.htm

Becoming a District Councillor

The Nocton Dairies saga has amply demonstrated just how important it is to have local representation at District Council level. If you are interested in becoming one of those representatives, this is now your opportunity to stand for election.

•  Would you like to become more involved in your community?
• Are you interested in influencing how local services are delivered?

For more information, click here:

http://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/section.asp?docId=8296

How do I get nominated to become an elected councillor?

http://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/section.asp?docid=561&ovt=1

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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
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The 'Big Society' in action

Localism... not if Nocton Dairies have anything to do with it!

Nocton Dairies issues formal complaint over campaign claims

'NOCTON Dairies has issued a formal complaint over claims made by local campaigners opposing its plans for a 3,770-cow dairy unit on Nocton Heath, in Lincolnshire.'

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/nocton-dairies-issues-formal-complaint-over-campaign-claims/36378.article

So it has finally surfaced... with Nocton Dairies launching an attack on democratic debate and valid objections to their proposals... by accusing the local residents' campaign group (CAFFO) of scaremongering.

http://noctondairies.co.uk/news.html

Scaremongering... well you may like to make your own mind up on the issue.  If the following reports are anything to go by, there is every reason to be concerned about these two applicants developing an intensive dairy development in the vicinity of our local villages.

CAFFO could perhaps be excused for not taking Messrs Barnes and Willes' word at face value, when you consider the experiences documented below:


Parkham Parish Council

You can read Parkham Parish Council's view of Mr Willes' business activities here if you've not already seen this:

http://nocton.blogspot.com/2010/12/nocton-dairies-threatens-action.html

Local residents in Devon

There are also personal accounts from local residents about Mr Willes' retrospective planning application for a slurry lagoon at Sedborough Farm.

1.  I quote from Mr N Ley's letter dated 8th March 2010:

"There has been a massive increase in continental multiple-axled articulated lorries carrying animal feed, milk etc delivering as early as 6 am and as late as 11 pm.  These vehicles have unrestricted movements and as such seriously damage the amenities of residents, restricting leisure pursuits."

2.  A further email dated 11th March 2010 states:

"Slurry spreading all night long, relentless, unremitting, causing sleepless nights."

[Torridge District Council - 1/0130/2010/FULM]

3.  And extracts from another letter on the same subject by John McKay, dated 10th May 2010:

"The unfortunate background is that this applicant is a nuisance, an encumbrance, and a pest and we are now at a crossroads... the contribution to the local economy must be balanced against the cost to everyone else, the vast majority, who live here. The activities of Parkham Farms causes a significant net loss to the community and it should not be allowed to expand without let or hindrance as it has been to date."

"There is a clear attempt to portray the operation at Sedborough as a normal farm with cows grazing contentedly in pastures rolling and green. In reality it is a large factory for the production of milk from which the cows are never let out."

"All of the surrounding fields are used to grow feed and are intensively managed, including the spraying of slurry, such that the river Yeo is now devoid of any aerobic life form."

"The applicant claims that odour is not an issue. It currently is. Depending on wind direction this can be quite suffocating and has caused general discomfort and nuisance."

John McKay letter dated 10th May 2010 [Torridge District Council - 1/0130/2010/FULM]

4.  Additionally, it now transpires there have been issues at Mr Barnes' Withgill Farm too.

"The applicant already causes nuisance to nearby residents by not adhering to previously agreed restrictions relating to plant movement, noise and light."

[Ribble Valley Borough Council: 3/2008/1029]

"... we point out the massive intrusion that the farm complex makes in comparison to what was envisaged when development started."

"... planting regimes do not seem to have been successful."

"There is already a significant problem of waste disposal on surrounding fields and resulting odours blighting some nearby residential sites."

[Ribble Valley Borough Council: 3/2010/0747]

It is therefore very comforting to see that our local MP has supported his many constituents, who have made it known that they strongly object against the Nocton Dairies Ltd planning application: 10/1397/FUL.

If you have been following the saga of the Nocton Dairies Ltd planning application, you will no doubt be interested in seeing what Mr Stephen Phillips QC MP has had to say on the matter.

You can view a copy of his letter here: Stephen Phillips QC MP letter

Finally, I have just remembered I wrote a blog about 'Trust' a while ago... now where was it... oh yes here it is:  http://nocton.blogspot.com/2010/11/trust.html
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Nocton Dairies threatens action

Super-dairy firm threatens action over protesters' 'factually inaccurate' leaflet

'THE company behind plans for 3,770-cow super-dairy in Lincolnshire are threatening to take protesters to an advertising watchdog.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/Dairy-protestors-leaflet-spreads-misinformation/article-3042338-detail/article.html

So I suppose it's OK for Nocton Dairies Ltd to have a website and push a glossy 'information leaflet' out to local villages... but when a small group of local residents who may be affected by the intensive dairy development try and do the same to give an alternative view, they get threatened with The Advertising Standards Authority by Peter Willes and David Barnes, the two directors behind the scheme. This seems rather heavy-handed in my opinion... and probably tells you more about Mr Willes and Mr Barnes than it does about local residents struggling to fight the plans.

One has to remember this is a multi-million pound investment with wealthy directors, backed in principle by the influential dairy industry... and according to the formal Minutes from the meeting in Potterhanworth, the company also has support from Government!

The story of David and Goliath comes to mind.

I can understand why Nocton Dairies Ltd do not want erroneous information out in the public domain, but nor do the residents. There is a great deal of information out there on the world-wide-web about intensive dairying, not all of it nice. I'm sure it isn't the intention of the applicants to have any of the less savoury issues arise with their development, but over in the States there have been instances of things going very wrong within this industry.

I have tried to provide links to many articles, both good and bad, since Nocton Dairies first came on the scene for background information.  However, I have never published this extract from a letter dated 10th March 2010, written by Parkham Parish Council about Mr Willes' plans for a large slurry lagoon at his Sedborough Farm, but I think it is probably high-time I did:

"The concerns of the Parish of Parkham are well documented and have been put before TDC and the Chief Executive of Torridge District Council on many occasions. You will also be aware that these concerns have been likewise endorsed by extensive communication from the Parkham Parish Conservation Association (PPCA) which represent the collective objections of members of the community whose well-being, safety and amenity continue to be seriously blighted by the cumulative and overbearing development associated with the Applicant's business.

Whilst the history and concerns regarding the negative impact of this business development are a matter of record the PPC would once again draw your attention to the fact that we now have a deeply disturbing 'creeping industrialisation' of our Parish - arising from development by stealth and cynical misuse of retrospective planning procedures by the Applicant which has resulted in the growth of a multi-million pound factory farm operating on an enormous scale in a deeply rural location with restricted access via exclusively single track lanes.

The Parish Council would reiterate that this Planning Application represents perhaps the most alarming and cynical example of retrospective planning regulations manipulation by this Applicant. The slurry lagoon has been constructed, knowingly, excessively larger than previously approved and has brought with it even greater detrimental consequences in terms of amenity, safety and well-being which has now caused a 'tipping point' for our community.

We note that since our previous input the development in question has been determined as a 'Major Development' which brings with it a need to meet further criteria. We note that the current submission from the Applicant does not provide a Traffic Assessment, a Noise Assessment, an Odour or Air Quality Assessment, a Landscape Assessment or Visual Appraisal, and Landscape Mitigation Report. The current Application also contains the same repeated inaccuracies regarding the impact on local residents/houses being minimal. This is entirely not the case as we have detailed to you previously."

To enable you to make your own mind up on the issue, I have provided once again the links to the following:

Nocton Dairies Ltd website: http://www.noctondairies.co.uk/

CAFFO website: http://www.caffo.co.uk/

A copy of the leaflet: CAFFO Leaflet (sorry - no longer available online)

You can then show your support either way, by writing to North Kesteven District Council and supporting the plans, or you can send in an objection to the plans - it is entirely your call.

Bad Press

A timely warning from Devon

Last night, I had a comment submitted to my blog of 22nd November 2010, highlighting a lack of planning permission for an enormous slurry lagoon on Mr Willes' Sedborough Farm in Devon.

It would appear the same comment has been submitted to the Lincolnshire Echo article 'Residents left confused by super-dairy planning number mix up' - my blog of 22nd November has the weblink.

I decided to do some digging around and managed to rediscover a previously read article from the Daily Mail - this is just an extract, but the relevant link is provided below if you wish to read the full version.

'The toxic truth about mega-farms: Chemical fumes, distressed animals and poisoned locals driven from their homes and worse'

'... Mr Willes's stewardship of some of his other farms has been decidedly chequered.

In 2005 he was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £4,000 costs after an investigation by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (part of Defra) found that he had bought unauthorised antibiotics to be administered to his animals.

That was at Sedborough Farm, near Bideford in Devon. His company was also fined £6,700 following a release of milk into Dipple Water in 2008 from Higher Alminstone Farm nearby.

An Environment Agency spokesman described the spill as: 'One of the worst we have seen for some time.'

Furthermore, Mr Willes has displayed a cavalier disregard for planning regulations. He recently enraged members of Parkham Parish Council when he got planning permission for a slurry lagoon at Sedborough Farm, but built a much bigger one.

He later applied for retrospective planning permission but the parish council opposed this.

A letter from the chairman of the parish council, Ian Pincombe, to Torridge District Council in Devon says the council is concerned over 'creeping industrialisation of our parish arising from development by stealth and cynical misuse of retrospective planning procedures' by Mr Willes.

Hardly the blemish-free record one would hope for a man hoping to pioneer industrial farming to Britain... '

You can read the full article here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1292011/The-truth-mega-farms-Chemical-fumes-distressed-animals-poisoned-locals.html

History of Planning Applications

I have managed to locate these planning applications on the Torridge District Council planning portal if you wish to view them:

Sedborough Farm

http://plans.torridge.gov.uk/propdb/property/property_history_summary.aspx?module=P3&lpikeyval=000LR5QKLI000&blpukeyval=000LCUQKBU000

The particular decision relating to the slurry lagoon is here:

http://plans.torridge.gov.uk/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?keyval=KXSAI6QK2M000&searchtype=PROPERTY&module=P3

Other related planning applications.

Higher Alminstone Farm

http://plans.torridge.gov.uk/propdb/property/property_history_summary.aspx?module=P3&lpikeyval=000LTXQKLI000&blpukeyval=000LA8QKBU000

Parkham Farms

http://plans.torridge.gov.uk/propdb/property/property_history_summary.aspx?module=P3&lpikeyval=L1OYAWQK02I01&blpukeyval=L1OYAWQK02I00


With the expectation of having to make major savings for running local services, it is a pity that North Kesteven District Council planning department cannot take into account the previous modus operandii of Mr Willis during planning processes, to consider the potential costs on the public purse.

Nevertheless, it should be a real consideration for the particular Councillors who will be considering the new application, who hopefully read this blog and can now see what Torridge District Council have encountered over many years.