Comment for planning application SCC/0045/23SE

3 Sperling Drive Haverhill Suffolk CB9 9SG

To: Andrew Rutter, Case Officer, Suffolk County Council Application Number: SCC/0045/23SE Construction 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 Dear Sir, I wish to object to the proposed development of an anaerobic digester at Spring Grove Farm, Haverhill. I object to this proposal on the grounds that the site proposed for this significant industrial, not agricultural, development and is totally inappropriate for the outskirts of the mainly residential town of Haverhill. . The A1307 is a secondary class A road with a previously high fatality record. It has a speed limit of mainly 50 mph and is mainly single carriage. It is not suitable for slow moving HGV traffic especially due to congestion during peak hours. There would be an increase in drivers potentially risking their lives and others trying to overtake. This road is primarily for cars and buses and HGVs are few in comparison. Plants like this are more suited alongside main trunk roads such as A14, A1 or similar, well away from residential areas which have the infrastructure to cope with the extensive traffic of HGVs and farm traffic during the build and daily operation of the plant. This development is not only one of the biggest proposed in the UK, but it is far closer to a high-density population than any other makes more sense to all concerned that it is situated in an easy accessible location without objection where it can operate and cause minimal disruption. The proposed site floods with relatively minimal rain and it is situated near a flood park which was built in the 1960/70s to prevent the town from flooding. If this large area is built on, the size of which will be approx 31 acres, where will the rain go which would have previously been absorbed by the farmland? The area opposite was flooded as recently as last week. The flood park or Meldham Washlands is a beautiful area full of birds, owls and wildlife. It has lakes with fish that attract fishermen daily and dog walkers alike. The risk of this habitat being destroyed is real should any flooding occur on the plant site. Haverhill has very little in way of woodlands or walks in the town as it is has primarily been built on, so areas like Meldhams and East Town Park are cherished by residents and should not be put at any risk of pollution, disruption, light and noise pollution. We deserve better. Nearby are houses and a new building site for homes. There is a pub which serves food and people sit outside to enjoy the views and clean, fresh air. There is an innovation centre, the EpiCentre, recently built to attract business to work from their modern offices with the added benefit of its rural views and clean air rather than being in city/towns built up areas with pollution from vehicles. What business will now want to come there with the constant disruption of building and daily workings from a bioenergy plant transporting waste and omitting hazardous pollution and odours? The EpiCentre have commission their own assessment from professional consultants in this area who have concluded that the nearby houses will be impacted by odour despite Acorn denying this. Most importantly is the impact on our quality of life and the health of our children and ourselves. I have no doubt that the quality of air will be affected detrimentally if this is built despite 'promises' that this will not happen. Regardless of this, there is the noise and light pollution 24/7 disturbing residents. I do not live that close to the bypass but can hear traffic from there at night but this is occasionally. I cannot imagine how awful it would be hearing noise all night long, especially in the summer coming from the plant. Having read stories from Acorn sites in other parts of the country, there is nothing positive to come from it being built on the outskirts of our town. Haverhill is a relatively small town with pretty poor infrastructure. We have no train station and very few shops left in the high street. We do not have much to offer anyone potentially thinking of moving here other than our friendliness and pride in our town. Building a biogas plant here will significantly impact our town and really be a nail in the coffin for the desire to live here. This in turn will affect the value of our homes. There is also the great concern of accidents occurring on the site. I've read of these happening. And should there be an explosion or some reaction so near residential areas, how will this affect us? Our children? Our pets? This scenario should not be dismissed as something that would not happen - things like this do happen and can happen. Where would that leave us? With potential health problems and emotional distress? Acorn need to withdraw their planning application from our town and reapply to another site away from towns, villages or cities and build along side other industrial sites along dual carriage ways or motorways that can take these types of establishments. Mark Purkiss