Protestors at an event staged against the plans. Photo: Jasper Weldon
North Kesteven District Council has objected to a plan for a £28 million animal waste rendering plant in Norton Disney, despite company assurances that improvements have been made.
Lincoln Proteins said “extensive improvements” were made to the proposal and addressed previous objections.
But, councillors have raised concern over odour, location of the factory, visual impact, historical environment and traffic.
In a decision notice, the council said that the developer had failed to explain why other sites could not be used for the facility.
It said: “Notwithstanding that having regard to the nature of the proposals the development of an ABP facility in the countryside may be able to be justified, the applicant has failed to fully evidence why alternative allocated employment sites are unable to accommodate the development.”
A decision on the factory will be made by Lincolnshire County Council at a later date.
Site Layout Plan. Photo: Lincoln Proteins Ltd/JHWalter LLP Chartered Surveyors
Lincoln Proteins said it felt it had addressed concerns made in the new plan.
The company said an advanced archaeological evaluation has been carried out on the site. The resubmitted application commits to ecological enhancements and improved wildlife habitats including catering for bats that are in the locality.
Lincoln Proteins also commissioned reports including an Odour Management and Air Quality report by a leading environmental expert Dr Nigel Gibson.
The firm said potential concerns associated with Hill Holt Wood users have also been addressed with reports by clinical experts Dr Elinor Butterfield and Dr Hannah Clements.
More than 3,600 people signed a petition back in December 2017 against the plan, which was then presented to the county council. In the same month, around 400 demonstrators took part in a march organised by the Witham Valley Preservation Group from Villa Farm to Norton Disney.
However, the firm said the application has had a lot of support from different organisations, including the National Federation of Meat Traders.
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Over a tonne of food and essential items, as well as more than £16,000, have been donated to local food banks through a Lincolnshire Co-op campaign.
The donations came after Lincolnshire Co-op launched its food bank advent calendar campaign throughout December.
An estimated 1,350kg of food and essentials, the equivalent of around 3,213 meals, and £16,675 of store dividend and cash was donated to over 40 larders and food banks in Lincolnshire.
Customers could also donate store dividend as well as cash and items. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Customers were encouraged to donate one item each day during their shopping, dropping them in collection bins at local stores.
A full collection bin at the Queen Elizabeth Road store in Lincoln. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Each day a new item was suggested by Lincolnshire Co-op, ranging from tinned goods to cleaning products, providing an advent calendar format for the scheme.
Items were suggested for donations with campaign labels in stores. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Sam Turner, Community Manager at Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated to our Food Bank Advent Calendar campaign.
“Thanks to the generosity of our shoppers, members, and colleagues, we’ve been able to support the important work of local food banks in our area and help feed families at Christmas and beyond.”
Boston United will have no games for two weeks, as the National League North and South divisions come to a temporary halt.
It comes after a review of feedback from all clubs in the sixth tier of English football, which will see football at that level paused for two weeks.
The move is effective immediately, meaning Boston United’s home fixture against Brackley Town has been postponed until further notice.
A board meeting with the National League decided to put a stop to football at that level, amid growing concerns of rising coronavirus cases and winter financial packages.
Clubs were informed that while government funding was still likely from January to March, it would be in the form of loans rather than grants should football continue to go ahead.
Boston United chairman David Newton. | Photo: Boston United FC
Boston United chairman David Newton issued a statement on Thursday outlining the club’s stance in relation to the season, saying that he supported the decision to suspend the season.
“Clubs were also asked to give their views on a potential four-to-six-week suspension of the competition.
“After lengthy discussions within the club, we confirmed that we would, on balance, support this.
“We are a football club so, of course, we want to be playing games, but our decision took into account a number of factors.
“We are somewhat uncomfortable playing when the pandemic is at its peak and a large part of the population are locked down.
“Despite the strict Covid protocols we have in place, there is always a risk to players, staff and their families, and that has to be paramount in decision-making.
“We would, of course, need to know the detail relating to any suspension – and planned restart – before offering our final support to the proposal.”