Consultation with Stream Bioenergy - Find a freedom of information request

Under the FOI. LCC & NKDC are the only councils who have confirmed a consultation with Stream Bioenergy. Based on this. I have asked Anwick Action Group members to ask questions to LCC & NKDC. 

Anwick Action Group member 1

Q. Anwick Residents were advised that 44 sites were considered, as LCC is the only county council to confirm dialogue with Stream Bioenergy. Please provide the postal addresses or pin drops of the sites considered.

You state Marc Willis & Mike Daley of LCC were the first point of contact via Stream Bioenergy on 24/05/2023 and 8 months later to involve NKDC, based on information provided by NKDC FOI. See below:

1. The initial date when dialogue began with Stream Bioenergy. 7 February 2024.

2. The nature of these communications (e.g., phone, email, video meetings, or in-person meetings). In-person meeting followed by email of matters discussed. The Development Manager also called-in at the Anwick Consultation event held by Stream Bioenergy on 15 April to observe the nature of the event.

3. The individuals who were in attendance and their respective roles as decision-makers within the County Council, District Council, and Parish Council. Richard Wright, the Leader of the Council, and Mark Williets as the Development Manager.

4. Conclusions The application will be a County Matter and NKDC will only be a statutory consultee. The conclusions therefore will be the responsibility of the County Council.

Questions:

Q1. Can you provide me with full disclosure of names of officers who exchanged any form of dialogue with Stream Bioenergy, dates and locations. This includes other departments, such as highways and any associated outside parties included, such as landowners, factory farms, investors or politicians.

Q2. What incentives were offered to LCC by Stream Bioenergy?

Q3. Did Stream Bioenergy explain that Biomethane production is a direct result of factory farming and not a renewable energy that uses natural resources such as sun and wind?

Q4. Did Stream Bioenergy explain the health implications of chicken litter on humans or did LCC or NKDC raise this issue? ie Pneumonia from red mites in chicken litter, airborne campylobacter, pathogens or zoonotic illnesses.

Q5. Did LCC or NKDC consider the risk of cross contamination of Moy Park slaughterhouse?

Q6. As LCC is fondly known as Bomber County, were any of the above parties previously employed by the RAF? ie Cllr Richard Wright of NKDC is ex RAF. Can LCC or NKDC explain why Stream Bioenergy were not informed of the restricted airspace of MATZ 124.450 over Anwick and Ruskington?

Here is a few questions and comments from other residents from the Anwick Action Group.

Anwick Action Group member 2

Q1. Why did it take from May 2023 until April 2024 before affected residents were even considered to be consulted!

Q2. What was the topic of discussion?

Q3. Were any agreements reached? What follow on events and information shared between parties? Why did council entertain such a proposal?

Anwick Action Group member 3

Q1. Please explain how close it will be to living properties only 3 to 400 Metres away thank you G Bates

(I think he is trying to say - Is it acceptable in a residential area?)

Anwick Action Group member 4

Having recently visited the waste recycling plant in Hemswell, I was alarmed by the overwhelming stench that pervades the area. The odour was so intense that it was nauseating, and it is clear that this issue is a significant disturbance to the local community. Moreover, Anwick Action Group have exchanged correspondence with the residents in Ballymena who shared similar concerns about the persistent odours emanating from Stream's biogas plant in their vicinity.

Additionally, the lady who runs the cafe at Hemswell described being inundated with flies, an issue that she and other residents are forced to contend with regularly. In the summer months, the cafe and residents are held hostage by the odour and flies and are forced to leave their doors and windows closed. Despite their best efforts, the flies remain a persistent problem. House flies are not only a nuisance but also pose a serious health risk as they can spread diseases such as food poisoning and dysentery.

Q1. When neither LCC nor Stream Bioenergy can mitigate against flies and odours in Hemswell and Ballymena, how could you mitigate this in Anwick?

During the consultation meeting at Anwick Community Centre concerns were raised about Stream BioEnergy providing misleading and inconsistent information that failed to address community concerns transparently. These issues have severely eroded trust and raised serious doubts about the company's commitment to effectively mitigating the negative impacts of the biogas plant.

To compound the problem, the North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) has a poor track record of effectively dealing with companies that cause problems for the community, as seen with Moy Park, Anglian Water, and Magna House. We also have issues with the Environmental Agency's unwillingness to enforce any fines that would send a clear message that these companies' conduct is inappropriate and damaging to the community and the environment. Previous instances have shown that companies often promise to mitigate issues but fail to deliver, leaving residents to deal with the consequences.

Q2. Given this history, we are highly concerned that the issues the Stream BioEnergy biogas plant would cause would not be dealt with effectively. Based on LCC/NKDC's current lack of effective enforcement and accountability, why should we trust anything you tell us?

In addition to the physical and environmental concerns, I must highlight the potential mental health impact of the proposed biogas plant on our community. The persistent odours, noise (during and after construction), and fly infestations will culminate in stress, anxiety, diminished quality of life and reduced life expectancy. Studies have shown that environmental nuisances can significantly impact mental well-being, leading to conditions such as depression, sleep disturbances, and increased stress levels that contribute to strokes, heart attacks and death.

Q3. The community's mental health has already been impacted by Stream Bioenergy's proposal. How will they mitigate against depression, sleep disturbances, and increased stress levels that contribute to strokes, heart attacks and death if their proposal is approved?

Statement from an anonymous source in Anwick.

Our FOI request has revealed that over a year ago the Principal planning officer and the planning manager of LCC met with Stream bioenergy regarding their proposed biogas regional facility at Anwick. Clearly the Principal planning officer and the Planning Manager are the decision makers or part thereof for this likely application. From our perspective, the Stream bioenergy team , at the public consultation with the villagers, on a number of occasions stated in conversation that it was a done deal. They indicated that objections were pointless as LCC officers had given them 'the nod' for approval . Therefore, we challenge that any decision to approve any application in this regard, from this applicant is potentially corrupt and cannot now be done impartially and open mindedly. We consider that the meeting between said parties may have prejudged the outcome of the planning process and will have failed to take account of the consultation process and the quite obvious vehement objections likely to arise with this regional plant being proposed far too close to such a small rural village . We consider that this meeting was ill advised and raises serious concerns that the 'Gunning Principals ' have not and will not be complied with. Any decision to approve any application from Stream Bioenergy in these circumstances would be unfair and would also be 'Wednesbury Unreasonable'.

Anwick Action Group member 1

Q1. Is this statement above correct? If so, how will LCC proceed?

Q2. In light of the above, can you advise me if Anwick is at risk of further development by Moy Park, Pilgrim, JBS or the Big Boys from Brazil with their £4.2 billion expansion plan? https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/meat/pilgrims-pride-brings-in-boys-from-brazil-for-brutal-42bn-restructure/686865.article

Q3. Is Anwick or Ruskington at risk of a mega farm?

Q4. Is Anwick or Ruskington at risk of a new Slaughterhouse?

Q. Lincolnshire County Council do not hold this information.

Anwick Action Group member 1:

Q1) Planning:  Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) Planning Officers held a meeting (consultation) with representatives from Stream Bioenergy on the 24/05/2023 and 07/02/2024.

Q2) None.

Q3) No.

Q4) No.

Q5) No.

Q6) LCC do not know of attendee’s personal historic employment history. The relevance or otherwise of restricted airspace would be dealt with by the planning authority through consultation with the Ministry of Defence should the proponents decide to submit an application.  Prior to an application being submitted it is for proponents and their agents to undertake their own assessment of any potential constraints before deciding to proceed to the application stage.

Anwick Action Group member 2:

Q1) This question should be directed to the proponent. The planning authority carries out consultation to accord with prescribed planning legislation. No planning application has been submitted therefore the consultation was carried out by the proponent and was intended to inform local residents of their intentions. The timetabling of this is beyond the remit of the planning authority. 

Q2) LCC is unable to provide an answer to this question. Please clarify discussed when and with whom?

Q3) This question is not clear as to what it relates however, LCC can confirm that, no agreements in principle or otherwise have been established between LCC and the proponent. A subsequent request for a Scoping Opinion to establish the information required to be included within an Environmental Impact Assessment was received and this was drafted and issued EIA/01/24 and is available on the planning portal. LCC cannot refuse or grant planning permission for any development without due process in accordance with planning legislation. No planning application has been submitted for this proposal therefore no decisions can be made until that time.

Anwick Action Group member 3:

Q1) The development site is proposed to be located adjacent to one residence and around 130 metres from the settlement edge of Anwick. As part of the consideration of a planning application the location of the proposal and its relationship with nearby residential receptors will be assessed. 

Anwick Action Group member 4:

Q1) If a planning application is submitted, this is a matter that can be raised through the formal consultation process and any requirement for control measures may be taken into account at this stage.

Q2) The concerns with the developments you have highlighted are not within the remit or control of Lincolnshire County Council and as such we are unable to comment.

Q3) The EIA Scoping Opinion issued by the LCC (ref: EIA/01/24) in respect of this proposal sets out that the impacts on population and human health are to be assessed. As part of the planning application process consultation will be undertaken with Public Health and North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) Environmental Health for their views on this and any other relevant matters. 

Anwick Action Group member 1:

Q1) LCC Planning refutes any of the alleged claims made in this statement. Pre application meetings and correspondence is part of the normal procedure for dealing with most forms of major development and has no reflection on the integrity of the council’s Planning Officers.

Q2, 3 and 4) LCC Planning is not aware of any further proposals for major development referred to at Anwick or Ruskington that would be under the purview of LCC.