Anwick residents have expressed strong opposition to a proposed biogas plant meant to process chicken waste on the perimeter of their Lincolnshire village. With plans of processing 120,000 tonnes of chicken faecal matter and feedstock waste for national grid gas production, the plant is set to be constructed on Horncastle Road near the Moy Park poultry factory. An online petition against this development has already been signed by over 600 people, who are concerned about the smell and size of the plant.
Elaine Coulson, the leader of the Anwick Action Group as well as the chair of Anwick Parish Council, is worried that the plant might ‘endanger the village’, making it a challenge to attract new residents or sell properties. According to plans, the plant includes the construction of eight digester tanks, each with a height of 25m, a processing building, which will be located merely 200m from the nearest residences.
Supporting the environmental benefits of the plant, Councillor Mervyn Head of North Kesteven District Council opposes the plant due to the adverse impact on the people of Anwick. Despite these concerns, the plant developer, Stream Bioenergy, maintains that a comprehensive odour assessment indicates acceptable levels of smell, and that the plant will not significantly affect local traffic; a maximum of only three HGV movements per hour can be expected. A final decision is yet pending from the Lincolnshire County Council, with public comments still under review.
This article was originally reported by the BBC and has been adapted for The Lincoln Post.
