BLOCK Industrial Biogas Plant in rural Lincs

We are raising funds to help support the effort to object to and stop the planning application for a wholly unsuitable industrial scale anaerobic digester plant in rural Lincolnshire.

Funds will be used to help communicate with local residents, to produce posters, banners and fliers/leaflets. Additionally may also be used to help fund potential planning consultant involvement through the planning application process.

Ironstone Energy Ltd plans to build a large industrial gas manufacturing plant (Anaerobic Digester) for commercial use, on greenfield land between the hamlet of Gunby, South Kesteven District and the village of Sewstern, Melton Borough.

This is a wholly unacceptable and unsuitable site for such a facility requiring 100s of HGVs a week passing through local villages. (scroll down for more info).

Alternative brownfield sites or existing employment sites identified in SKDC’s Local Plan should be considered.

The proposed site will be bigger than 9 full size football pitches on a green field site!

Impact on the road network

The industrial gas plant will be in a field served by narrow rural lanes remote from a suitable highway network. An access road will be built across more agricultural land to link north to the B676, a minor local road.

Over 100 lorry movements a day will pass through local villages including Stainby, Colsterworth, Buckminster, Coston, and beyond towards Melton Mowbray. Many of the crops will also be transported along upgraded farm tracks to local roads affecting many more villages.

Impact on the UKs food security

A huge area of agricultural land once used to grow food crops will be taken out of production with crops being grown specifically to rot down to produce all the gas being sold to industry. This at a time when food security and UK grown food has been identified as a priority for farmers.

No community benefit

The gas produced at the plant is methane which will be sold directly for consumption by industry elsewhere in the country. The gas will not be used to heat local homes, nor power local business.

Impact on the rural landscape

The proposed site, an agricultural field, is designated as open countryside. The gently rolling countryside, characteristic of the Kesteven Uplands means that the industrial gas plant will be visible from far afield - spoiling highly valued views and rural amenity for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and other visitors. Light and noise pollution will impact both wildlife and local residents.

Impact on wildlife

Replacing agricultural fields (approximately the area of 9 full size football pitches) and the addition of new access road and upgraded farm tracks, impacting trees and hedgerows will all harm wildlife. Soil will be replaced with concrete hard standing and structures made of concrete, steel and plastic. Once destroyed this landscape, that has evolved and been cultivated over centuries, will never be recovered.

No net green benefits

Although methane (a ‘hydrocarbon’) produced by anaerobic digestion is deemed to be ‘green gas’, it produces carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) when burnt to produce heat. Other forms of renewable energy provide greener alternatives. Ironstone Energy intends to use 100% energy crop input it will not address the huge quantities of organic waste produced in our region.

Even if you support biogas production – we urge you to oppose Ironstone Energy’s planning application, any benefits they might claim are outweighed by the resources used to build the plant and the diesel HGVs transporting crops, slurry and CO2 and the need to import food from abroad.