Comments Form

Dear Sir I am writing to you today to object to the development of an anaerobic digester at Spring Grove Farm, Haverhill. I am devastated to see the plans for this anaerobic digestion plant and I dread the numerous negative effects that it will bring to Withersfield, Haverhill, and the surrounding areas. Should this plant be given the go-ahead, residents like myself will be forced to put up with drastic changes to their everyday lives. Firstly, I ask you to consider the multiple health and safety risks that this development will bring to those who live in the area. It is a known fact that anaerobic digesters create horrid smells. These smells, which are caused by the rotting vegetation and poultry waste, will attract vermin and flies. Flies are attracted to this type of organic waste, but are also likely to travel away from the source. There is a high probability of infestations from both vermin and flies within a 1km radius of the plant. In a 1km radius of the site there are approximately 1000 homes, and there are more than 6000 homes within a 2km radius. As I am sure you can imagine, this potential risk of infestations is a very real and frightening prospect for the many residents of Haverhill and Withersfield. In addition, the plant has potential to discharge hazardous chemicals, 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 an anaerobic digester. This is terrifying for our community and is not a fear that we should be forced to live with. Also, this development brings safety risks to the thousands of road users in the area. The site is situated next to the A1307 which is already a high-risk route, and has been the location of several fatalities in the past. The proposed site will need to be accessed throughout the year by farm vehicles, HGVs, and gas tankers, on a continuous basis, with no time of day or night without traffic moving to the plant. This heavy traffic will therefore cause an increased risk to our road users who use these routes regularly. Once completed, the plant will operate on a 24/7 basis. There will be HGVs and farm vehicles delivering to site throughout the day and night. This will not only cause an increase in traffic but will also significantly increase the amount of light and noise pollution in the area. It will require flood lighting outside of daylight hours, and its usual operations, including gas tanker movements with reversing sirens, will operate day and night - causing constant noise and light pollution. As someone who's family moved to the area two years ago to get away from noisy city life, the potential for this constant and disruptive plant to be built is extremely upsetting. Finally, I do not believe that Acorn have seriously considered the impact that flooding could have on the plant and our towns and villages. 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 in protecting the town of Haverhill to its East. Should this flooding 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 leakage of 'material' is very real because of the 31 acres of porous farmland that will have been concreted over. If this material leaks, it will pollute the lake and surrounding water courses, having a catastrophic impact on local wildlife. 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 as it will put many people in the local area at risk. In summary, this plant will be disruptive and dangerous to the lives of the residents of Withersfield and Haverhill. I ask you to think about the impacts that this will have on us and to please reconsider. Many thanks, Minky Byrne (resident of withersfield)

Application number
Name
Address	1-2 Hollow Hill Withersfield Haverhill Suffolk CB9 7SH
Type of Comment
Comments	Dear Sir I am writing to you today to object to the development of an anaerobic digester at Spring Grove Farm, Haverhill. I am devastated to see the plans for this anaerobic digestion plant and I dread the numerous negative effects that it will bring to Withersfield, Haverhill, and the surrounding areas. Should this plant be given the go-ahead, residents like myself will be forced to put up with drastic changes to their everyday lives. Firstly, I ask you to consider the multiple health and safety risks that this development will bring to those who live in the area. It is a known fact that anaerobic digesters create horrid smells. These smells, which are caused by the rotting vegetation and poultry waste, will attract vermin and flies. Flies are attracted to this type of organic waste, but are also likely to travel away from the source. There is a high probability of infestations from both vermin and flies within a 1km radius of the plant. In a 1km radius of the site there are approximately 1000 homes, and there are more than 6000 homes within a 2km radius. As I am sure you can imagine, this potential risk of infestations is a very real and frightening prospect for the many residents of Haverhill and Withersfield. In addition, the plant has potential to discharge hazardous chemicals, 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 an anaerobic digester. This is terrifying for our community and is not a fear that we should be forced to live with. Also, this development brings safety risks to the thousands of road users in the area. The site is situated next to the A1307 which is already a high-risk route, and has been the location of several fatalities in the past. The proposed site will need to be accessed throughout the year by farm vehicles, HGVs, and gas tankers, on a continuous basis, with no time of day or night without traffic moving to the plant. This heavy traffic will therefore cause an increased risk to our road users who use these routes regularly. Once completed, the plant will operate on a 24/7 basis. There will be HGVs and farm vehicles delivering to site throughout the day and night. This will not only cause an increase in traffic but will also significantly increase the amount of light and noise pollution in the area. It will require flood lighting outside of daylight hours, and its usual operations, including gas tanker movements with reversing sirens, will operate day and night - causing constant noise and light pollution. As someone who's family moved to the area two years ago to get away from noisy city life, the potential for this constant and disruptive plant to be built is extremely upsetting. Finally, I do not believe that Acorn have seriously considered the impact that flooding could have on the plant and our towns and villages. 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 in protecting the town of Haverhill to its East. Should this flooding 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 leakage of 'material' is very real because of the 31 acres of porous farmland that will have been concreted over. If this material leaks, it will pollute the lake and surrounding water courses, having a catastrophic impact on local wildlife. 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 as it will put many people in the local area at risk. In summary, this plant will be disruptive and dangerous to the lives of the residents of Withersfield and Haverhill. I ask you to think about the impacts that this will have on us and to please reconsider. Many thanks, Minky Byrne (resident of withersfield)
Received
Attachments

Comment for planning application SCC/0045/23SE