County Durham community joins forces to fight plans for anerobic digestion plant
Plans for an industrial sized plant which will process organic waste at a farm in County Durham have met with fierce opposition, with both residents and businesses concerned about its impact.
The proposed scheme at Sprucely Farm – just a mile from Sedgefield and close to the prestigious NETPark development – has attracted more than 800 objections from individuals and organisations, worried about the impact a large-scale waste processing plant will have on both businesses and house values.
And now a campaign group has been set up by businesses and representatives from local councils to fight the proposal, which is due to go before the Planning Inspectorate next month (August).
The plan to create a huge anaerobic digestion plant was submitted by BioConstruct New Energy Ltd, which already has other plants on industrial sites on Teesside, with the company having previously been fined because of problems with odours.
Increased traffic caused by dozens of lorries taking waste to and from the plant on a daily basis plus the potential smell caused by the processing of 89,500 tonnes of everything from pig and chicken manure, food waste to blood are just some of the causes of concern raised by businesses, councillors and the general community.
Knotty Hill Golf Centre’s 10th hole is just a few metres from the proposed site and proprietor Denis Craggs has now aired his concerns.
“ We are deeply concerned about the proposed anaerobic digester plant being planned directly adjacent to our grounds,” he said.
“The scale of the facility, the potential for persistent odours and the sheer industrial nature of the project are wholly incompatible with a recreational and family-oriented setting like ours.
“When I was first approached by councillors in 1990 to use this land to build a golf course for the community, it was a vision rooted in leisure, accessibility, and affordability.
“That the neighbouring land is now being considered for an industrial-scale waste plant defies common sense.
“We fear for the future of Knotty Hill Golf Centre and urge decision-makers to reconsider this plan before irreparable damage is done to a long-standing community asset."
His words are echoed by John Adamson, owner of Hardwick Hall Hotel, which will also be adversely affected if the scheme goes ahead.
“The increased traffic and the potential odour problem will have a massive impact,” said John, who has now put his £18m spa and further development at the hotel on hold until the outcome is known.
“We host many outdoor events, as well as Hardwick Festival, and this could have a real effect on them.
“It’s damaging to our business and to the area as a whole, with a huge amount of materials being processed far too close to residential and business areas.”
The initial plans for the plant were approved by Durham County Council Planning Committee, which were then reconsidered after a number of complaints were made about a lack of awareness and consultation.
Both Knotty Hill Golf Centre and Hardwick Hall were among those who were not initially informed about the plan until after it was approved, which led to more than 800 complaints being lodged.
BioConstruct New Energy has now appealed to the National Planning Inspectorate, with a hearing taking place at Durham’s County Hall in August.
Local residents and businesses, backed by the area’s Durham County Council representatives, Bishop Middleham Parish Council, Sedgefield Town Council and Fishburn Parish Council are now working together on a case against the proposal.
They will present their case to the Planning Inspectorate at 10am on 27 August, with the opposers now appealing to the public to attend and support their objections.
Free coaches will be running from Hardwick Hall Hotel to County Hall on the day to take anyone who would like to support the campaigners.
The coaches will leave Hardwick at around 8.30am and anyone interested in taking part should email [email protected] to secure a place.
Durham County councillor, Ian Catchpole, is supporting the community objections.
“Having an anaerobic digestion plant within ten miles of a built-up area makes no sense whatsoever,” he said.
He is also concerned about potential health risks and the problems similar plants have caused.
BioConstruct New Energy were previously fined for emissions from their Middlesbrough plant which “caused up to four days of misery for local residents, many of whom moved out because of the smell.”
“The data backs up the need to seriously rethink this type of project approach in a built-up area,” said Cllr Catchpole.
“There are too many homes, schools and businesses which are impacted by it and to even consider this development so close to a bustling town centre is tantamount to commercial and societal suicide.”