Second Norfolk MP comes out against controversial waste plant
Liz Truss is the latest MP to come out against the Bressingham anaerobic digester - Credit: George Thompson/Inset: Chris Bishop
A second Norfolk MP has come out against plans for a controversial bioenergy development on the outskirts of a south Norfolk village.
Elizabeth Truss, MP for South West Norfolk has joined the call against plans for an anaerobic digester (AD) plant being built in Bressingham, near Diss.
AD plants use organic waste and crops – such as manure or maize – to create biomethane that will go into the national gas grid and ultimately be used to produce power.
Ms Truss has argued the roads are too small, cannot support the increased traffic to the proposed plant and could pose a danger to pedestrians.
The foreign secretary joins Richard Bacon, MP for South Norfolk, who stated his objections in January.
Richard Bacon has echoed the call of residents against the Bressingham anaerobic digester plan - Credit: George Thompson
Ms Truss’s objection comes following an expansion of the area covered by vehicles carrying waste products to the site from a 5km radius to 12km, meaning her constituency will also be affected by the plans.
Last year, the planning officer questioned the legality of the development, which deviated so far from a 2015 planning permission that it forced developer Deal Farm Biogas to submit a new planning application.
In a statement to South Norfolk Council's planning department, Ms Truss argued planning rules should be followed in "law and spirit".
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She said: "I believe that transport links to the plant would negatively affect the residents of villages such Kenninghall, North Lopham and South Lopham.
"The roads through these villages are small and would not be able to support the increased traffic to the proposed plant.
"The increased noise, traffic and demand on these roads would heavily disrupt local residents and pose a danger to dog walkers, horse riders and other pedestrians."
Ms Truss said the plant was in the wrong location and called on South Norfolk Council to refuse the application.
A spokesperson for Deal Farm Biogas, the developers behind the plans, said: “We are aware of the community’s concerns regarding traffic movements in Bressingham and the surrounding villages relating to the AD Plant at Deal Farm.
"The 2015 Design and Access Statement referred to a 5km radius for crops grown, however there was no limit on where manures and other agricultural by-products would be sourced from.
"The 12km radius has been introduced to place further limits on where material can come from and to help provide further advantages to local farms within this area."
Vehicle movement concerns
Tom Williamson, a south Norfolk Green Party coordinator, has also argued the number of vehicle movements will be far higher than in the original 2015 plans.
Tom Williamson, South Norfolk Green Party coordinator - Credit: Supplied
Seven years ago, the number of movements was estimated at 2,757. However, Mr Williamson said this has been revised in the December application, which shows the potential traffic load has increased to 3,172.
He raised concerns about the accuracy of the numbers, which count a vehicle entering and exiting the site as one movement, while he argues it should count as two. This puts the number of movements closer to 6,344.
