AIBU

[angstinabaggyjumper]

To oppose a gas producing Anaerobic Digester being built near my village?

Why? Can’t oppose it for without reason and just on principle which it sounds like from Your first post .
What are your concerns?

My concerns are smells and traffic. I know it is supposed to be environmentally beneficial but with tankers driving long distances to get to the unit how does this work?

What capacity is it ? Does the traffic go past your house? In my experience given the capacity traffic problems occur due mainly to narrow lanes rather than capacity. Hours are regulated and shouldn’t be before 7 am . Traffic can be seasonal though with lots at set periods eg when the digestate is needed on the fields.
What spreed is proposed that will have an effect on odiour? How it’s stored and how it gets to the AD feed. As regards odour there should be a decent odour condition applied to any consent BUT check the plans and see if they are proposing a barrier to the entrance hall usually rubberised sheeting not just a metal door. What is being proposed and where is it stored . Chicken feed can be smelly it should be a direct feed not exposed to the air to get to it. How far is your property from the site?

As far as your comment about fuel consumption goes you are correct of your area is a large nitrate zone where there is too much nitrate. The EA won’t allow additional digestate in those areas so it makes less sense to put an AD there if your area is predominantly pasture rather than arable. Those are the longer journeys . The source of the material depends on the contracts agreed and sometimes I agree it’s nonsensical. But it’s outside planning control and supposedly market forces should limit this.

Hope this helps . If you have any other questions please ask.

Feed stock not spreed

@2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney

What capacity is it ? Does the traffic go past your house? In my experience given the capacity traffic problems occur due mainly to narrow lanes rather than capacity. Hours are regulated and shouldn’t be before 7 am . Traffic can be seasonal though with lots at set periods eg when the digestate is needed on the fields. What spreed is proposed that will have an effect on odiour? How it’s stored and how it gets to the AD feed. As regards odour there should be a decent odour condition applied to any consent BUT check the plans and see if they are proposing a barrier to the entrance hall usually rubberised sheeting not just a metal door. What is being proposed and where is it stored . Chicken feed can be smelly it should be a direct feed not exposed to the air to get to it. How far is your property from the site?

As far as your comment about fuel consumption goes you are correct of your area is a large nitrate zone where there is too much nitrate. The EA won’t allow additional digestate in those areas so it makes less sense to put an AD there if your area is predominantly pasture rather than arable. Those are the longer journeys . The source of the material depends on the contracts agreed and sometimes I agree it’s nonsensical. But it’s outside planning control and supposedly market forces should limit this.

Hope this helps . If you have any other questions please ask.

What a fab response!

@redheadwitch

Thank you! [preens extravagantly] I used to be a specialist waste planner which helps!

@angstinabaggyjumper
I have responded to your comment / question above now a couple of days late because I was ill for a few days and just saw it today.

@2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney Thank you so much for your very informative reply!
I'm sorry that I don't have all the answers to your questions, yet. I'll tell you what I think I know. It will be attached to a large dairy and import slurry from their other dairies, the 'product ' will then be driven 50 miles away. The council claim that an environmental survey isn't needed. It sits in a flood plain and I would say that the land around is mainly pasture with some arable. There will be a 'blow off' chimney. It will operate 24/7.
What concerns me is that procedures won't be properly followed (our council have some previous here) also is it likely that said dairy gets centrally funded money for this operation so it will go ahead regardless of the environmental impact?

@angstinabaggyjumper
If you can send me a link to the planning application online I can have a look at it. Do it privately if you like. If I also know your postcode again privately I can look at things in more detail for you.

I would add chimney is essential for flaring and is only used in an emergency. As regards 24/7 operation. That is normal for AD but the key thing is when traffic is permitted to enter and leave the site I wouldn’t expect that to be 24/7 !
The reason I would like to look at the planning app details is to look at flood plain etc . Some things are allowed depending on the catagory . It will be in the FRA .
As regards funding yes grants are available to encourage it but that is separate from it being looked at through planning.

@2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney wow thank you.
The planning application isn't in yet but the plans are published somewhere, I'll try to find them.

@angstinabaggyjumper
If the application hasn’t been made yet , remember this is one determined by the county council if there is one, not the district. If it’s a unitary or metropolitan council it’s them. That may or may not ease your coupncerns on the council’s ability to deal with it properly. Sometimes applicants aren’t even aware which council to send it to.

Maybe check the county website too if there is one?

It sits in a flood plain and the council is saying that no environmental survey is needed? What about the Environment Agency - what do they say about it?