To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.
Minutes:
Mrs S Coffin from Templeton asked a question referring to item 5 on the agenda. She stated that Mr Stuart Cole and Mr Winston Reed were Directors within the Greener for Life Group (GFL) (comprising approx. 50 plus individual companies) and which offered a complete operational service to the 11 Anaerobic Digesters (AD)’s it was connected with across Devon/Somerset/Cornwall. This encompassed the importing and exporting between sites of both various feedstock’s/manures as well as non-pasteurized liquid waste from the AD process.
She informed the Committee that since the GFL Group and associated AD’s at Menchine Farm, Nomansland, Great Hele Farm, South Molton and Frogmary Green Farm, South Petherton started operations - the parishes of Nomansland, Puddington, Templeton and Rackenford as well as other Mid Devon and other neighbouring roadside residents and hamlets had endured:-
a) Increased noise and vibration from traffic movements to and from to service the AD and rented lands; as well as the import/export between AD sites across Parish/District and County boundaries. These can and do include journeys throughout the night.
b) Residents of the hamlet of Nomansland can hear the continuous noise from the operations servicing the AD to include the reversing bleepers and chp units.
c) Continual destruction of our fragile rural ‘C’ roads and annihilation of our banks and verges which are enduring passage of huge agricultural implements (some with loaded combined weight of 50 tonnes plus) together with 44 tonne artic lorry movements. Highways constantly stating no money to maintain/repair.
d) Bad odours and pollution from heaps of uncovered chicken litter scattered across associated rented lands across five parishes.
e) Pollution incidents affecting our rivers and streams from silage effluent and slurry/liquid digestate through apparent operational error or over-spreading.
f) The importing (for example) of liquid digestate waste in HGV’s all the way from South Petherton, Somerset to an uncovered slurry pit at Crossparks, Nomansland within less than 100 metres of two non-agricultural private dwellings. This has resulted in an additional nuisance of odour and noise plus potential health risk complaint from the affected residents to your Council.
g) The returning lorries then loading up with slurry from Edgeworthy Farm, Nomansland (an approximate 80 to 100 mile round trip to GFL Frogmary Green AD).
She said that it would appear from the letter dated 17th August 2015 received (via MP Neil Parish) from Rory Stewart, OBE, MP (DEFRA), that it is entirely the responsibility of the Local Planning Authority to enforce any planning conditions imposed on Planning Approvals granted. Also according to the letter, Enforcement Officers have increased powers at their disposal to ensure compliance and thus prevent what could otherwise become an unacceptable impact on the amenity of an area.
In view of all the above and the fact that any ‘Best Practice’ controls within the AD Industry appear to be purely voluntary – it would seem that the only protection for the local environment and amenities is via the imposing and enforcement of said Planning Conditions which is purely down to the Local Planning Authority.
We, therefore respectfully ask for Menchine Farm, Nomansland APP/Y1138/A/13/2193382 - Inspector Mike Robins decision dated 26/07/13 Condition 8 to be enforced in full and as set out therein. As well as requesting that a Planning Enforcement Officer pays close attention to the construction of the smaller Edgeworthy Farm, Nomansland AD which is in progress at present so as to ensure that it complies fully with the specific planning appeal granted by Inspector Gareth Symons APP/Y1138/A/14/2211282 - appeal decision date 23/05/14 and all Conditions in full contained therein.
She thanked the Committee for giving her the opportunity to speak.
Mr M Dudley Williams informed the Committee that he wished to provide further information regarding the minutes of the last meeting. Mr Williams explained that Members and the Member of Parliament had referred to potential planning applications for Junction 27. He informed the Committee that he wanted to make it clear to them that Eden Westwood were only seeking allocation in the emerging Local Plan at this stage and had no intention of making a planning application.
Mr R Roberts, referring to item 4 on the agenda, Tiverton Town Centre Development, asked if seeing as the report appeared to indicate a lack of a business case for the development of the Premier Inns, have any other parties had been offered the opportunity to produce proposals for the site. He also stated that the Chief Executive had indicated that a new Tourism Strategy was being issued in the autumn but that he had not been consulted regarding this matter. He asked what consultation had taken place.
The Chairman stated that these questions would be answered during the agenda item.