Plans for a new biogas plant in Canwick have provoked an angry response from fearful local residents, with even the Environment Agency and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue weighing in to say that the development should not be approved in its current form.
Applicants Arc Energy submitted the plans for the plant to be based on agricultural land approximately 300 metres south of Heighington Road.
If approved, plans for the anaerobic digestion plant would include:
New road access
Weighbridge shed
Pre-treatment tank and a clamp store
2 feed hoppers and 2 digestive tanks
Plant room & CHP unit
Gas flare
Pasteurisation unit
Separator & Lagoon
Gas upgrading unit & propane tank
Grid entry unit (GEU) & ancillary equipment
The plans have seen dozens of objections lodged from residents living in the villages of Canwick, Heighington and Washingborough, with a public meeting held on Monday, February 5.
Graham Crawford, who lives in Washingborough, raised concerns about the risks posed from the plant to nearby villages, the increase in slow-moving traffic, and noise during the night.
He told The Lincolnite: “We are really concerned about the intention to build an anaerobic digestion plant within 800 metres of a highly rated Ofsted nursery school, existing housing and a new approved housing development which includes homes for senior citizens.”
Jean Straw, who lives in Canwick, echoed these sentiments. She said: “To site such an environmentally unfriendly operation on the boundaries of Canwick would be subjecting the village residents to untold unnecessary danger, stress and possible smell.”
Conservative county councillor for Washingborough Lindsey Cawrey has said the council’s Planning and Regulation Committee should investigate and fully debate the possible impact of traffic, noise and smell generated by the application.
Risks of pollution must be managed
The Environment Agency has put on record its objections to the proposed development.
Keri Monger, planning advisor at the agency, said: “We object to this application as submitted because the applicant has not supplied adequate information to demonstrate that the risks of pollution posed to water quality can be safely managed.”
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has also called for a fire pump to be installed within 90 metres of the entrance.
Agents Kingsmead Design, speaking on behalf of applicants ACR Energy, said: “The proposed development seeks to diversify the agricultural business and contribute towards sustainable farming practices by harnessing renewable energy from agricultural and food wastes.
“The proposal will deliver sustainable development in accordance with national planning policy, meeting national and local objectives to achieve a sustainable future through the ability to create renewable energy to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
The plans have been submitted to Lincolnshire County Council, with a period of consultation set to end on Wednesday, February 7.
Previously, a 550kw on-farm anaerobic digestion plant was proposed for this site in November 2015. However, the application was withdrawn by developers in November 2016.
What is anaerobic digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is the process of breaking down organic matter such as animal or food waste to produce biogas and biofertiliser.
This happens in the absence of oxygen in a sealed, oxygen-free tank called an anaerobic digester.
In doing so, this reduces the volume of sewage or waste and makes it suitable for re-use as a renewable fuel.
A number of similar sites already exist across Lincolnshire.
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Robert Goddard’s designer clothing shop will open on the first floor of the former Waterstone’s building in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter in spring 2022.
The Lincoln shop will offer a range of big designer brands including Ted Baker, Hugo Boss, Barbour, Tommy Hilfiger.
It will sell menswear, womenswear, and a new range of kidswear called ‘Robert Goddard Junior’, which includes Barbour, Napapijri, Calvin Klein and Polo Ralph Lauren for children aged 6-14.
Following the completion of the £21 million Lincoln Medical School Building in March 2021, there has never been a better time for local students to pursue a career in medicine.
The UTC sixth form provides a specialist curriculum, in partnership with the University of Lincoln, which builds the foundation for medical and biomedical degree courses.
Kirsty Hickling, Head of Science at Lincoln UTC, said: “The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic was led by experts in medicine, highlighting the importance of encouraging this career path in our younger generation.
“The Lincoln Medical School was established in 2018 with the aim of improving recruitment of doctors locally. The close connections between Lincoln UTC and the University of Lincoln provide our students with opportunities to build their subject knowledge and skills within state of the art laboratories, clinical and anatomy suites. This experience is invaluable for students aspiring to pursue a career in medicine.”
Year 13 UTC student, Edward Pitts-Drake, is currently applying to study Paramedic Science at the University of Lincoln next year.
Edward said: “I joined the UTC in 2018 because I was already focused on studying medicine in future. In August 2020 I achieved a combination of 8s and 9s in my GCSEs, and I am now completing A Levels in chemistry, physics, biology, and maths.
“Studying at the UTC has given me the confidence to put my scientific knowledge into practice by volunteering with St John’s Ambulance Service. Alongside opportunities to visit the University laboratories, this experience has been vital in ensuring that my application stands out.”
Year 11 students can apply now to join the UTC sixth form next September. For more information visit www.lincolnutc.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01522 775990.
A 66-year-old man has pleaded guilty to one charge relating to the flight which cost Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala and Lincolnshire pilot David Ibbotson their lives in 2019.
David Henderson, of East Riding in Yorkshire, entered a guilty plea at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, relating to the charge of attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorisation.
This charge relates to an incident in January 2019, when footballer Emiliano Sala was flying over to Cardiff to complete a £15 million club record transfer from French side Nantes.
Emiliano Sala pictured with Cardiff’s CEO & Executive Director Ken Choo after joining the Welsh club at the weekend. | Photo: Cardiff City FC
The plane he was travelling on, a Piper Malibu N264DB piloted by David Ibbotson, 59, from Crowle in North Lincolnshire, crashed north of Guernsey after poor weather conditions.
The crash killed both Sala and Ibbotson, with the former’s body being found some two weeks after the incident. Ibbotson’s body was never located.
North Lincolnshire Pilot David Ibbotson. | Photo: GoFundMe page
Henderson has denied a further charge of endangering the safety of an aircraft, with the full two-week trial now due to start at 2pm on Tuesday.
The Air Accidents Investigations Branch’s report into David Ibbotson’s death found that he had likely suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning and was flying too fast for the plane’s design limits.
An investigation found that Ibbotson had no night flying training, and held a private license that didn’t allow him to conduct flights for reward.
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