Comment for planning application SCC/0045/23SE

19A CLEVES ROAD

flies. Flies especially are attracted to this type of organic waste, but, unlike vermin, are also likely to travel away from the source. There is a high probability of infestations from both species within a 1km radius. There are approximately 1000 homes within a 1km radius of the site; there are more than 6000 homes within a 2km radius. Indeed more homes are being built only a stones throw from the proposed site. This plant has the potential to discharge hazardous chemical, especially methane, and even hydrogen sulphide. In a worse-case scenario, biogas in combination with air can form an explosive gas mixture which, in a confined space near an ignition source, can result in explosion, risking serious injuries and fatalities. Acorn Bioenergy have never before built or maintained and anaerobic digester. Their experience is limited, to say the least. Local residents will have to endure an increase in light and noise pollution. The site is not time constrained; it's a 24/7 process so it will be operational at night. It will require floodlighting outside of daylight hours, causing light pollution. The normal business of the site will be conducted during daylight and the hours of darkness, meaning its usual operations, including gas tanker movements with reversing sirens, will continue at the time of day when sound travels further, affecting even more residents than usual. 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, and the reservoir came close to being full in 2001, 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, having concreted over 31 acres of porous farmland, the risk of leakage of 'material' is very real, polluting the lake and surrounding water courses. The impact on local wildlife will be catastrophic. If anyone is in any doubt about this they should look at the many pictures published of flooding around the area of Spring Grove Farm. The risk of flooding should not be allowed to be easily dismissed. I will also add that businesses that use the Epicentre nearby have stated they will leave if this goes ahead and it would be unlikely that new businesses, creating employment, will be willing to move in. The Anaerobic digester will not create any significant employment and we are like to lose these places from the Epicentre. The Spirit of enterprise roundabout and the Epicentre are an aesthetic gateway to Haverhill from Cambridge. The gross appearance of the industrialised units will, at this entrance, have a damning affect on the appearance of the area designated as a floodplain and green space in the Haverhill master plan 2031. As Mayor of Haverhill in 2021 I visited the Epicentre at its opening and one of the key features for attracting clients to the building was the welcoming views across the floodplain and fields. This will be obscured by the obscenity of this proposed industrial development. The increase in traffic, difficulty of logistics, health hazards, flooding and smell are all going to have an extremely negative impact on the town. Yours Liz Smith