VELMUR LIMITED
PROPOSED DAIRY UNIT
SOUTH WITHAM
The Directors of Velmur and their advisers have, following their meeting with the South Witham Parish Council and the open meeting, reflected on comments raised at the meeting and the reaction of the village.
The Company still believe that the case for more intensive dairying remains in the UK. The scheme in many ways could have met anticipated concerns of the village.
Velmur had from the outset agreed to consult and listen to the views of the village. Access, the site and measures for slurry disposal could have minimised the impact of the scheme. The proximity of the site to the village however would not be acceptable to the village in the circumstances.
The Directors have agreed that they will not be taking forward a planning application for this site.
PRESS RELEASE ENDS.
For those in the village of South Witham, Lincolnshire (and their supporters) who wish to try to prevent the construction of a Concentated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) or Battery Cow Factory Farm, immediately outside our village.
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Minutes from first meeting of SWAFFO, 15th June, 2010
The first meeting of South Witham Against Factory Farm Operations (SWAFFO) took place on 15th June, 2010 in the village hall. The minutes are available in Microsoft Word format by clicking here, but for those who don't have Word, I've published them below...
SOUTH WITHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Draft minutes of SWAFFO working group meeting 1 - Tuesday 15th June 2010 at 7.30pm
Present
Cllr M Wilkins (Chair), Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr D Arnold, Cllr A Smith, Cllr D Maclaine, Cllr N Robins, Sarah Beardmore, Jeff Moss, Marian Davis, Fiona Stuart, Tom Chalmers, Kevin and Linda Baxter, David and Val Joy, Jane Rutherford, Gordon Andrews, Richard Burton, Rev Tom Broadbent,
Mrs H Sandon
Apologies
Cllr P Dedynski, Cllr C Ashton
Meeting Objectives
Cllr Wilkins outlined the workgroup list and explained that by the end of the evening there should be names against each group to investigate these areas further and deadlines set to report back information to the SWAFFO committee.
Events since Public Meeting of 7th June 2010
Parish Council letter had been sent to Velmur Ltd and associates advising of the unanimous vote against the proposal and public disappointment at their non-attendance at the meeting to answer questions, copy of letter on blog. Jeff Moss initiated the blog and keeps the information up to date on a daily basis. Mr Stafford had emailed back to say that Buckminster will discuss and get back to the PC, nothing received as yet. Cllr Wilkins had attended a Nocton meeting that had been informative and it was agreed to send a rep. from each others’groups along to future meetings. A petition has been started around the village. Cllr Wilkins and Mr Monahan had attended a meeting with Nick Boles, our MP, who said he would not get involved as it is a local planning issue. After stressing that there is no legislation to cover these operations, he said he would help with the application. An early days motion has been restarted, however Mr Boles will not sign one as he thinks they are a waste of time.
A copy of the letter sent from NKDC Chief Executive to Defra asking for help was handed to Mr Boles. He will ask a question in the house at the appropriate time. Cllr Wilkins had written to Lady Tollemache asking for help, she had since called back and said she cannot help as she has nothing to do with Buckminster affairs. Cllr Wilkins had sent a further email to Mr Stafford asking Buckminster to reconsider.
Master list of email addresses has been created from the sign in register at the Public Meeting and Cllr Wilkins has sent out the minutes of the Public Meeting to all. Tom Chalmers reported he had been looking at the press on a national basis and info. on proximity to residential housing.
Initiate SWAFFO Groups
All areas need to be looked at in readiness for when the planning application is received, as there may only be a three week turnaround. Possible material considerations and weighting that could be applied by the SKDC Planning Dept need to be thought through fully. Velmur Ltd have had a pre planning meeting with the planners, SWAFFO need to do so too. Cllr Wilkins to arrange.
Issues were allocated as follows;
Environment and Conservation to be combined as one group, Jane Rutherford to lead, with Linda and Kevin Baxter, Richard Burton, Tom Chalmers, Gordon Andrews and Tom Broadbent to assist.
Administration Jeff Moss – blog, other administration tasks- Helen Sandon.
Research – Marian Davis, Defra added into this group.
Traffic – Nick Robins and Sarah Beardmore.
Public Relations – Martin Wilkins.
Public Health – Andrea Smith to lead with help from Jeff Moss, Debbie Arnold and Claire van Straubenzee.
Legal – David Maclaine
Animal Welfare – Fiona Stuart and Tom Broadbent.
Planning – Martin Wilkins.
Petition – Mr & Mrs Joy to co ordinate, additional petition sheets to be put in both shops and pubs.
Petition to be completed and delivered to Buckminster by Mr & Mrs Joy and Claire van Straubenzee by next week.
Reporting Procedures
SWAFFO meetings to be held every two weeks on a Wednesday night at 7.30pm. Next meetings Weds 30th June. Working groups to arrange their own meetings in between and collate information to report back in two weeks time.
SWAFFO contact list information circulated around the table for members to check, Martin Wilkins to then update and issue to all on committee.
Martin Wilkins to be copied in on all emails sent between working group members in order to coordinate activities.
Meeting Schedules
Weds 30th June, Weds 14th July, Weds 28th July all at 7.30pm.
Martin Wilkins may invite an adviser from Planning Aid along to a meeting in a few weeks time to help and advise on the planning application process.
Any other business
Keeping the residents informed and not losing the momentum - information to be included in the July Witham Word, but then there is no August issue, hence future flyers to be produced/ distributed accordingly.
Suggested that the leaflet – Are You Informed, that has appeared around the village be sent out to all residents now with the addition of key headings added in, to show the areas SWAFFO is investigating further. Mr & Mrs Baxter to help with the printing, then delivered to Peter Ball for distribution with the WW, notice required being 48hrs for inclusion. Meeting closed at 9.30pm
SOUTH WITHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Draft minutes of SWAFFO working group meeting 1 - Tuesday 15th June 2010 at 7.30pm
Present
Cllr M Wilkins (Chair), Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr D Arnold, Cllr A Smith, Cllr D Maclaine, Cllr N Robins, Sarah Beardmore, Jeff Moss, Marian Davis, Fiona Stuart, Tom Chalmers, Kevin and Linda Baxter, David and Val Joy, Jane Rutherford, Gordon Andrews, Richard Burton, Rev Tom Broadbent,
Mrs H Sandon
Apologies
Cllr P Dedynski, Cllr C Ashton
Meeting Objectives
Cllr Wilkins outlined the workgroup list and explained that by the end of the evening there should be names against each group to investigate these areas further and deadlines set to report back information to the SWAFFO committee.
Events since Public Meeting of 7th June 2010
Parish Council letter had been sent to Velmur Ltd and associates advising of the unanimous vote against the proposal and public disappointment at their non-attendance at the meeting to answer questions, copy of letter on blog. Jeff Moss initiated the blog and keeps the information up to date on a daily basis. Mr Stafford had emailed back to say that Buckminster will discuss and get back to the PC, nothing received as yet. Cllr Wilkins had attended a Nocton meeting that had been informative and it was agreed to send a rep. from each others’groups along to future meetings. A petition has been started around the village. Cllr Wilkins and Mr Monahan had attended a meeting with Nick Boles, our MP, who said he would not get involved as it is a local planning issue. After stressing that there is no legislation to cover these operations, he said he would help with the application. An early days motion has been restarted, however Mr Boles will not sign one as he thinks they are a waste of time.
A copy of the letter sent from NKDC Chief Executive to Defra asking for help was handed to Mr Boles. He will ask a question in the house at the appropriate time. Cllr Wilkins had written to Lady Tollemache asking for help, she had since called back and said she cannot help as she has nothing to do with Buckminster affairs. Cllr Wilkins had sent a further email to Mr Stafford asking Buckminster to reconsider.
Master list of email addresses has been created from the sign in register at the Public Meeting and Cllr Wilkins has sent out the minutes of the Public Meeting to all. Tom Chalmers reported he had been looking at the press on a national basis and info. on proximity to residential housing.
Initiate SWAFFO Groups
All areas need to be looked at in readiness for when the planning application is received, as there may only be a three week turnaround. Possible material considerations and weighting that could be applied by the SKDC Planning Dept need to be thought through fully. Velmur Ltd have had a pre planning meeting with the planners, SWAFFO need to do so too. Cllr Wilkins to arrange.
Issues were allocated as follows;
Environment and Conservation to be combined as one group, Jane Rutherford to lead, with Linda and Kevin Baxter, Richard Burton, Tom Chalmers, Gordon Andrews and Tom Broadbent to assist.
Administration Jeff Moss – blog, other administration tasks- Helen Sandon.
Research – Marian Davis, Defra added into this group.
Traffic – Nick Robins and Sarah Beardmore.
Public Relations – Martin Wilkins.
Public Health – Andrea Smith to lead with help from Jeff Moss, Debbie Arnold and Claire van Straubenzee.
Legal – David Maclaine
Animal Welfare – Fiona Stuart and Tom Broadbent.
Planning – Martin Wilkins.
Petition – Mr & Mrs Joy to co ordinate, additional petition sheets to be put in both shops and pubs.
Petition to be completed and delivered to Buckminster by Mr & Mrs Joy and Claire van Straubenzee by next week.
Reporting Procedures
SWAFFO meetings to be held every two weeks on a Wednesday night at 7.30pm. Next meetings Weds 30th June. Working groups to arrange their own meetings in between and collate information to report back in two weeks time.
SWAFFO contact list information circulated around the table for members to check, Martin Wilkins to then update and issue to all on committee.
Martin Wilkins to be copied in on all emails sent between working group members in order to coordinate activities.
Meeting Schedules
Weds 30th June, Weds 14th July, Weds 28th July all at 7.30pm.
Martin Wilkins may invite an adviser from Planning Aid along to a meeting in a few weeks time to help and advise on the planning application process.
Any other business
Keeping the residents informed and not losing the momentum - information to be included in the July Witham Word, but then there is no August issue, hence future flyers to be produced/ distributed accordingly.
Suggested that the leaflet – Are You Informed, that has appeared around the village be sent out to all residents now with the addition of key headings added in, to show the areas SWAFFO is investigating further. Mr & Mrs Baxter to help with the printing, then delivered to Peter Ball for distribution with the WW, notice required being 48hrs for inclusion. Meeting closed at 9.30pm
Meeting with Nick Boles, Friday 11th June, 2010
Meeting with MP: On Friday 11th June, Martin Wilkins and Fin Monahan met with our new MP- Nick Boles – to discuss the Factory Farm and to try to gain his support.
His initial reaction was that he could not get involved with Planning Applications because as an MP he must not try to influence such decisions. He did say that he would insist on the planning process being enforced and carried out democratically.
We pointed out that there was no legislation to cover Factory Farms for cows – only Factory Farms for Pigs or Poultry. His reaction was that if we made too many regulations then it could drive the industry out of the country and lead to us importing all of our milk. We pointed out that it was important to have regulations that help the Farmers and the local rural communities and that the proximity of the proposed South Witham Factory Farm was totally unacceptable and needed some sort of regulation.
He asked for more information on the proposal and did say that he would give what help he could with our defence of the application.
We pointed out that the Chief Exec of NKDC – who have been dealing with the Nocton application - had asked DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) for help as there were no proper guidelines for Planners.
He did eventually agree that he would ask a question in the House at the appropriate Agricultural Question Time about how DEFRA was dealing with such Factory Farms.
Maybe a sort of success but he will need working on in the future!!
His initial reaction was that he could not get involved with Planning Applications because as an MP he must not try to influence such decisions. He did say that he would insist on the planning process being enforced and carried out democratically.
We pointed out that there was no legislation to cover Factory Farms for cows – only Factory Farms for Pigs or Poultry. His reaction was that if we made too many regulations then it could drive the industry out of the country and lead to us importing all of our milk. We pointed out that it was important to have regulations that help the Farmers and the local rural communities and that the proximity of the proposed South Witham Factory Farm was totally unacceptable and needed some sort of regulation.
He asked for more information on the proposal and did say that he would give what help he could with our defence of the application.
We pointed out that the Chief Exec of NKDC – who have been dealing with the Nocton application - had asked DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) for help as there were no proper guidelines for Planners.
He did eventually agree that he would ask a question in the House at the appropriate Agricultural Question Time about how DEFRA was dealing with such Factory Farms.
Maybe a sort of success but he will need working on in the future!!
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Chicken Out campaign
Whilst researching the animal welfare aspects of battery farming, I came across the Chicken Out campaign run by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall. In the same way as for the cows, it sounds like a good idea to me, to stop battery farming approaches in this country, so I signed up for their campaign.
Interestingly, one of the parts of the campaign registration process, led to a check on whether my MP had signed Early Day Motion 581, which relates to "Food labelling and the welfare of chickens". For some reason the site suggested that Nicholas Boles (our MP) had signed this, but when I went onto the EDM site, it suggested otherwise, which would be in line with what Nicholas Boles has said to us, i.e. that he does not sign EDMs as a matter of principle.
I've blogged recently about EDM 144, but I notice some more EDMs have recently appeared, in a similar vein:
Lets hope that they gather some support in the coming weeks.
Nick has agreed to raise a question in the house on this matter, which is a positive step.
Interestingly, one of the parts of the campaign registration process, led to a check on whether my MP had signed Early Day Motion 581, which relates to "Food labelling and the welfare of chickens". For some reason the site suggested that Nicholas Boles (our MP) had signed this, but when I went onto the EDM site, it suggested otherwise, which would be in line with what Nicholas Boles has said to us, i.e. that he does not sign EDMs as a matter of principle.
I've blogged recently about EDM 144, but I notice some more EDMs have recently appeared, in a similar vein:
- Beak trimming ban
- Public procurement of eggs, meat and milk
- Ban on battery cages
- Industrialisation of dairy farming
Lets hope that they gather some support in the coming weeks.
Nick has agreed to raise a question in the house on this matter, which is a positive step.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Minutes from the South Witham Public Meeting, 7th June, 2010
As you will no doubt be aware, a public meeting was held on 7th June, 2010 in the village hall at South Witham to discuss the proposals for a Confined Animal Feeding Operation, or "Battery Cow Factory Farm".
The minutes of that meeting are now available here, or on the Correspondence page.
The minutes of that meeting are now available here, or on the Correspondence page.
Velmur Ltd Press Release from 7th June, 2010
Available from the Correspondence page above, or click here.
I believe the Nocton proposers used similar excuses to not attend a public meeting relating to their CAFO proposals.
I believe the Nocton proposers used similar excuses to not attend a public meeting relating to their CAFO proposals.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Letter to Velmur Ltd from South Witham Parish Council
I've been asked by Martin Wilkins, the Parish Council Chairman, to publish a letter sent by the Parish Council to Velmur Ltd in response to their no show at the public meeting on Monday 7th June, 2010.
The original document is in Microsoft Word and will be available in the Correspondence link at the top, however, for the benefit of those who do not have this software and to make it, more accessible, therefore, I'm publishing it in plain text below.
Mr M Walsh
Velmur Ltd
The Old Stables
High Street
Morcott
Rutland
LE15 9DN
Dear Mr Walsh,
cc Mr Stafford-Buckminster Estates, Mr Paton-Chesterton Humberts,
Peter Wilmot- Peter Wilmot Architects
We were most disappointed to be told at such a late stage that you would not attend our Public Meeting that had been arranged by us and agreed by you.
Some 230 people assembled in the Village Hall to hear your presentation and to raise questions and receive your responses. Asking our Chairman to show your presentation on your behalf was greeted with a certain amount of derision within the Hall and has been duly reported by both local Radio and TV stations.
The meeting lasted for approximately 1½ hours and a host of valid points was raised in a most orderly manner, culminating in a unanimous vote against your proposals and providing us with a mandate to proceed with a vigorous and robust campaign to prevent such a Factory Farm being built in the vicinity of areas of residential habitation.
Buckminster Estates also came in for severe criticism not only for not attending the meeting but also for contemplating allowing such a scheme to proceed with such total disregard for the well-being of the population that live in and around their Estate.
Yours sincerely,
Helen Sandon (Mrs)
South Witham Parish Clerk
The original document is in Microsoft Word and will be available in the Correspondence link at the top, however, for the benefit of those who do not have this software and to make it, more accessible, therefore, I'm publishing it in plain text below.
Mr M Walsh
Velmur Ltd
The Old Stables
High Street
Morcott
Rutland
LE15 9DN
Dear Mr Walsh,
cc Mr Stafford-Buckminster Estates, Mr Paton-Chesterton Humberts,
Peter Wilmot- Peter Wilmot Architects
We were most disappointed to be told at such a late stage that you would not attend our Public Meeting that had been arranged by us and agreed by you.
Some 230 people assembled in the Village Hall to hear your presentation and to raise questions and receive your responses. Asking our Chairman to show your presentation on your behalf was greeted with a certain amount of derision within the Hall and has been duly reported by both local Radio and TV stations.
The meeting lasted for approximately 1½ hours and a host of valid points was raised in a most orderly manner, culminating in a unanimous vote against your proposals and providing us with a mandate to proceed with a vigorous and robust campaign to prevent such a Factory Farm being built in the vicinity of areas of residential habitation.
Buckminster Estates also came in for severe criticism not only for not attending the meeting but also for contemplating allowing such a scheme to proceed with such total disregard for the well-being of the population that live in and around their Estate.
Yours sincerely,
Helen Sandon (Mrs)
South Witham Parish Clerk
Nocton Village meerting update
Martin Wilkins, the Parish Council Chairman for South Witham, attended a meeting of the Nocton Campaign Group on Tuesday evening, where they received a very useful presentation on planning and how to react to Planning Applications.
Martin will book the speaker to come to South Witham in the near future. The Nocton group are very motivated and ready to react to the possible resubmission of the Planning Application.
It was clear to Martin that there is a lot of common ground and the two groups must act together. Getting legislation in place to cover these sorts of previously unthought of developments is essential as is further work on the Public Health issues that so far seem to have been ignored.
Martin will book the speaker to come to South Witham in the near future. The Nocton group are very motivated and ready to react to the possible resubmission of the Planning Application.
It was clear to Martin that there is a lot of common ground and the two groups must act together. Getting legislation in place to cover these sorts of previously unthought of developments is essential as is further work on the Public Health issues that so far seem to have been ignored.
Added a poll on to the blog to gauge reaction
It's very early days with the blog, but I thought I'd put a poll at the top which will allow people to vote on whether the South Witham CAFO proposals.
The results will need time to grow and stabilise - as with all polls, until the number of responses are statistically significant, it would be unwise to draw any conclusions from them.
The results will need time to grow and stabilise - as with all polls, until the number of responses are statistically significant, it would be unwise to draw any conclusions from them.
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
A touch of class!
I emailed Glenda Jackson MP last night about the original Early Day Motion (Number 1037) on Large scale dairy units. The MP who put forward that motion was Eric Martlew, who retired at the last election, so I wanted to ensure that either that Early Day Motion was reinstated or a fresh one started.
I was very pleased to receive a call from Glenda herself this afternoon as I was driving home from work (hands free phone, honest!) and she told me that there is a new Early Day Motion (144) replacing that original one.
I was very pleased to receive a call from Glenda herself this afternoon as I was driving home from work (hands free phone, honest!) and she told me that there is a new Early Day Motion (144) replacing that original one.
Monday, 7 June 2010
Public Meeting, 7th June, 2010
Well, talk about cowardly! The developers (Velmur Ltd) decided they didn't want to face the village residents and so decided to back out of the public meeting by citing that they felt they wouldn't get a fair hearing, due to the influence of outsiders from the village (I presume they mean people like WSPA and CIWF).
Nobody from Buckminster Estates - the land owner - was present and most felt thoroughly disappointed in that.
Instead, they dropped off their presentation to Mike Wilkins and asked him to present it to the village on their behalf - how bizarre!
In excess of two hundred people turned up to the meeting, where Martin gave the presentation from Velmur Ltd. This was followed by an hour of Q & A amongst the villagers and, ultimately, a show of hands for and agaisnt the proposal with all attendees NOT in favour of allowing the developers to proceed.
A good result - for round one.
Nobody from Buckminster Estates - the land owner - was present and most felt thoroughly disappointed in that.
Instead, they dropped off their presentation to Mike Wilkins and asked him to present it to the village on their behalf - how bizarre!
In excess of two hundred people turned up to the meeting, where Martin gave the presentation from Velmur Ltd. This was followed by an hour of Q & A amongst the villagers and, ultimately, a show of hands for and agaisnt the proposal with all attendees NOT in favour of allowing the developers to proceed.
A good result - for round one.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Principal Acquifer
Unless I'm mistaken, the land on and surrounding the South Witham CAFO, is on a Principal Acquifer which was one of the reasons that the Environmental Agency objected to permission for the Nocton proposals. Looks like they will have the same issue in South Witham if they submit proposals officially.
The Environment Agency objected on the grounds that there was an unacceptable risk to groundwater due to a number of factors, including that the area was on a Principal Acquifer.
The Environment Agency objected on the grounds that there was an unacceptable risk to groundwater due to a number of factors, including that the area was on a Principal Acquifer.
Friday, 4 June 2010
Velmur Ltd
The proposers of the CAFO in South Witham are a company called Velmur Ltd. Companies house don't list very much information on them, other than the company was formed on 11th November, 2008 and has yet to file any accounts. They are listed as being "c/o Private Research, International House" which, I'd cynically suggest, is a wise choice when you are trying to ensure you can't be traced (try putting "private research" into google and see how many hits you get!).
Their Directors are listed as:
Patrick Anglim
Paul Bowes
Michael James Walsh
According to Michael Walsh, their parent company is A.B.W. Partnership, for which very little information can be found, other than this article which doesn't sound very promising.
Their Directors are listed as:
Patrick Anglim
Paul Bowes
Michael James Walsh
According to Michael Walsh, their parent company is A.B.W. Partnership, for which very little information can be found, other than this article which doesn't sound very promising.
Added Twitter to the blog
I've created a Twitter account for SWACAFO and linked the "tweets" into the blog...see on the right hand side.
If anyone prefers Tweeting to Blogging, now's your chance to get involved.
I can give access to anyone who is involved, and give them some brief education reasonably quickly...let me know if you're interested.
If anyone prefers Tweeting to Blogging, now's your chance to get involved.
I can give access to anyone who is involved, and give them some brief education reasonably quickly...let me know if you're interested.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Some new documents - Site plan and OS map positioning
Martin Wilkins has kindly sent me a couple of documents showing:
- The site plan from Velmur Ltd. for the proposed CAFO.
- The OS Map showing South Witham and the prposed CAFO.
Anaerobic Digesters...not, in fact, a panacea for all the evils of a CAFO
The Velmur Ltd. proposal includes the provision of several Anaerobic Digesters, which they say will contain all of the manure produced and will be able to produce energy from it in a CHP plant (where the gas created in the digester is burnt to create power.
This article seems to refute most of that supposition, whilst also highlighting that the process is highly inefficient, doesn't get rid of all the odour and is backed by high subsidies (in the USA).
Doesn't sound very clever to me.
This article seems to refute most of that supposition, whilst also highlighting that the process is highly inefficient, doesn't get rid of all the odour and is backed by high subsidies (in the USA).
Doesn't sound very clever to me.
Parish Council meeting, 1st June, 2010
I attended the Parish Council meeting last night, in order to hear what Velmur Ltd had to say about their proposals for a CAFO in South Witham - it was an interesting meeting, to say the least.
The joint proposers of the CAFO are Buckminster Estates, who were represented, on the night, by their Estates Manager (I'm sorry, I didn't catch his name but when I find it, I'll update this post).
The meeting started with a presentation from the guys from Velmur Ltd which lasted about 45 minutes - Councillor Martin Wilkins (Parish Council Chairman) has asked for that presentation electronically, so hopefully it will be made available on this blog in due course. After the presentation was over, Martin began the response, and there followed an hour of energetic debate, which, from my perspective, appeared to leave many questions unanswered and, before they left, both Buckminster Estates and the Velmur Ltd team were left in no doubt, as to the strength of opposition to their proposals.
Some of the higlights of the debate were:
The joint proposers of the CAFO are Buckminster Estates, who were represented, on the night, by their Estates Manager (I'm sorry, I didn't catch his name but when I find it, I'll update this post).
The meeting started with a presentation from the guys from Velmur Ltd which lasted about 45 minutes - Councillor Martin Wilkins (Parish Council Chairman) has asked for that presentation electronically, so hopefully it will be made available on this blog in due course. After the presentation was over, Martin began the response, and there followed an hour of energetic debate, which, from my perspective, appeared to leave many questions unanswered and, before they left, both Buckminster Estates and the Velmur Ltd team were left in no doubt, as to the strength of opposition to their proposals.
Some of the higlights of the debate were:
- Velmur Ltd stated that there is a milk shortage in this country, which is made up by imports - it's actually more complex than that given that the EU operates milk quotas and that, whilst the UK under achieves on it's quotas, so do almost all other EU bloc countries, except for the four largest milk producers.
- There will be an odour issue, but Velmur Ltd were unwilling to be specific about it. Although they made great efforts to talk about their Anaerobic Digesters which house the slurry, when pressed, they were unable to rebutt the fact that the slurry does not go straight from the cow to the Anaerobic Digester and therefore there will, without question, be an odour issue.
- Velmur Ltd are a "shell" company - incorporated on 11th November, 2008 and yet to file any accounts, according to Companies House - hardly a pedigree that instils trust.
- Whilst acknowledging that there are obvious animal welfare issues, they were put to one side by the Parish Council, purely on the basis that they have no bearing on the planning applications process.
- Allegedly, other sites have been considered by Velmur Ltd, but, despite the regulations in the USA requiring these farms to be at least four and in some cases, eight miles away from human habitation, due to public health issues, Velmur Ltd still want to develop this farm, which is one third the size of the whole village, right alongside South Witham, within 300m of the nearest houses.
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