Comment for planning application SCC/0045/23SE

Blackberry Cottage Turnpike Hill Withersfield Cb97ry

Application Number: SCC/0045/23SEConstruction and operation of an anaerobic digestion facility, associated infrastructure and new access road, connecting pipeline and covered digestate lagoons Applicant: Acorn Bioenergy Limited/Thurlow Estate I wish to object strongly to the above planning proposal My objection is based on the following points. Location. The location of the proposed site is entirely inappropriate, parts of the site lie within an area that has a flood zone 2 and 3a classification. Its position is one of the lowest in the surrounding area at 80 metres above sea level with surrounding areas 40-60 metres higher. This is an area has always been likely to flood, as it has it the past week and 5 times in the last 12 months. The site is agricultural area which has helped soak away much of the water that pools here, the proposal of some 11 hectares, is to either to be concreted over or hard standing which will take away the soak away effect. The proposal will now add greatly to the chance of flooding as rain water will run of the site into the surrounding area, potentially contaminating the area or flowing into the Stour brook. Meldham Washland, often referred to as the flood park, is a flood storage reservoir situated at the confluence of Spring Grove Brook, Stour Brook and Hanchett End Brook. The Washland has been effective twice in recent history. Firstly in 1987 when it half filled with water, and more recently in 2001 when the monthly average rainfall fell in 24 hours. The reservoir came close to being full, and so protected the town of Haverhill to its East. Should this happen again, Spring Grove Farm, to the West, with no protection, will almost certainly flood. If the Acorn plant is there when that happens the risk of 'material' polluting the lake and surrounding water courses is considerable. The impact on local wildlife will be catastrophic. The location is also inappropriate in that it's placement is at the entrance to Haverhill on the main road to Cambridge, the size and scope of the site cannot be disguised, it will be an eyesore and detrimental the whole of Haverhill. The proposal will also greatly effect the housing at the arboretum with the site being clearly visible. Environmentally The site will use vast quantities of farm waste and chicken manure which as it rots will produce unpleasant odours. The storage of these products will attract vermin and flies. Acorn claim the stockpiled feedstock from silage and chicken manure and digestives will be kept covered. However experience from other AD sites show this is not the normal work practice, the failure to kept these items covered will greatly increase the smell from the plant. We have lived in the village of Withersfield for over 28 years and have previously suffered from the smells from the IFT plant in Haverhill which will is a considerable greater distance than the proposed AB site. However the effect on us will a lot less than the existing housing in the arboretum and the new proposed housing site. Health and Safety The proposed site is some 600 meters to the nearest buildings and some 800 meters away from an housing estate, given that a site in Oxfordshire recently exploded due to a lightning strike and this site will be at 16m meters high the highest in the area there is a likelihood that if a lightning strike were to happen there could be loss of life. Acorn have said that the site will not have any one on site monitoring the safety of the tanks. This remote monitoring will be undertaken in a third country who will have the power to vent methane gas into the environment at anytime. Traffic There will be a significant increase in the traffic flow to and from the site a great many of these farm vehicles bring in or taking away farm waste and chicken manure. These vehicle movements will most likely spread the contents of their loads over the highway and surrounding roads leading to dangerous road conditions. The A1307 is already a busy road with parts of it having had several fatal accidents the increase in the traffic, especially vehicles turning right into the site will make the road even more dangerous. This is going to be a huge site with 70% or more of it's feedstock coming from areas well outside of Haverhill and its surrounding area. The silage tanks alone with require Over six thousand cubic meters of silage this would require 300 vehicle movements both in and out of the site or in all 600 movements possible 4 times a year or 2400 movements a year, mostly coming from outside of the Haverhill area through inadequate roads. There is a very likely use of the roads through Withersfield village and along Silver street. The road through withersfield village is completely unsuitable for HGV vehicles as it is narrow with no lane markings and much more importantly there are No pavements by the road. We already take our lives in our hands when we walk through the village as it is also a rat run for people from Haverhill going to to the north side of Cambridge. These large HGV vehicles and farm vehicles we only add to this danger. Silver street is a narrow lane with a few blind corners, it has had fatal road accidents on it. The road is in a constant state of disrepair the verge's of the road are in many parts completely collapsed. The proposal shows that they want to use silver street as a access point, also there is a second proposal to expand a farm track entrance. Early this year parts of silver street were so badly potholed that you had to go on the wrong side of the road at a tight corner to past the pot holes, this was not a one off incident. Can you imagine meeting an HGV or farm tractor whilst doing this. Employment I believe the proposal suggests there maybe 5 full time jobs created, whilst the creation of jobs is a good thing my understanding is that there may many more jobs lost. Companies in the very nearby Epicentre feel they will be so badly effected by this site (visual and environmentally) that they will move out of Haverhill resulting in the loss of many jobs. The position of the site at the entrance to Haverhill is very likely to put of many companies who can bring well paid employment to Haverhill. Haverhill has invested lots time and money trying to attract these type of companies to employment sites close to the proposed site. In conclusion I strongly object to the proposed planning application for an anaerobic digester. The site will be detrimental to the whole area of Haverhill and the surrounding areas. The site will increase the chance of flooding and with that greatly increase the chance of pollution into the Stour brook and into Haverhill. It will be very close to existing housing a children's nursery and an employment hub. These and many other areas will be subject to foul odours, a visual eyesore, noise from the site, vermin and flies, increased traffic ( on unsuitable roads WIthersfield silver street ) dangerous traffic conditions and a potential explosion like in Oxfordshire with loss of life. The proposal will have a massive negative effect on Haverhill, through its perception, the loss of jobs, the reduction of house values and the potential loss of new housing, the effect on Haverhill could be devastating. Yours faithfully David Haywood Blackberry Cottage Withersfield Cb97ry