Comment for planning application SCC/0045/23SE

C/O West Suffolk House, Western Way Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU

Having read available documentation regarding the development of the Anaerobic Digester Plant (AD plant) at Spring Grove farm Withersfield, I have significant concerns regarding the plans. In the first instance, I do not believe that adequate consideration has been given to siteing the AD plant at a more appropriate location within the substantial Vestey estate. Regarding environmental concerns, literature distributed by the developers indicates that the site will generate little or no offensive smell, in my personal experience travelling regularly by a similar AD plant within East Anglia, this is simply not the case the smell is pungent and offensive and present throughout all times of the day and night. The offensive odour the plant will generate will negatively affect local residents, particularly those in Withersfield, Haverhill West and North. Those residents live in close proximity to the proposed site. As with any industrial development of this kind the release of particulate into the air is likely to exacerbate existing respiratory problems that local residents suffer from, subsequently this is likely to place an additional strain on over pressured general practice services within the town. The offensive odour will also cause lack of amenity, residents will not be able to enjoy the natural environment that they currently do at the Meldham Washlands (Haverhill reservoir), which lies immediately adjacent to the proposed site. Environment agency assessments also indicate that the proposed site sits within designated flood zone three, the current probability of flooding within this area is listed as high. A development of this scale at its proposed location will further increase the risk of flooding. The long-term jobs that will be created by this AD plant (five full time staff) are likely to be off set if existing commercial neighbours within the immediate area, i.e. businesses located at the Epicentre decide to leave due to the negative effects of the AD plant. Concerns have already been submitted to the County Council planning portal from these businesses. Furthermore, additional environmental concerns include increased risk of toxins from the site entering the Stour Brook which runs within a few hundred meters of the site. Projections from Acorn also indicate that it estimates an additional one hundred and forty-eight vehicle movements a day, these are for heavy goods vehicles and farm machinery, which are commonly accepted as some of the most polluting and environmentally hazardous vehicle types. Having visited the site and observing it from different geographical positions i.e., The Arboretum development, The Meldham Washlands and from public footpaths that bisect the Vestey estate, I am of the opinion that the planned shielding of this site by planting hedgerows and trees is inadequate, and that the development will be at odds with the natural environment of which it is located. Recent events at the Seven Trent Green Power site in Cassington Oxfordshire, where a lightning strike caused a serious gas explosion highlights the inherent dangers that this kind of development brings. The Cassington site was located a significant distance from residential dwellings, however the proposed Acorn site at Withersfield sits approximately one point five kilometres from The Arboretum residential development. Andrew Martin Councillor Haverhill West West Suffolk District Council