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To: John Morea, CEO: Scotia Gas Networks Ltd.; Southern Gas Networks plc; SGN Commercial Services Ltd.; SGN Connections Ltd. and SGN Contracting Ltd.

Why is Scotia Gas, a national gas distributor, supporting the unauthorised Crouchland Biogas plant?

SGN (Scotia Gas Networks) are petitioned to stop supporting the unauthorised Crouchland Biogas Ltd. industrial gas plant by removing all SGN owned equipment installed and being used without appropriate planning permissions at the Crouchland Biogas site located at Crouchland Farm, Rickmans Lane, Plaistow, West Sussex.

Why is this important?

Why is a national gas distributor, continuing to partner with an unlawful industrial gas plant? Why does SSE, a national energy firm who own 50% of SGN, condone this? The Timeline:
• 27May16: Crouchland seeks adjournment to EA case. Worthing Magistrates Court agrees to 24 June.
• 17May16: Traffic Inquiry reconvenes. Decision pending.
• 11-12May: Appeal against Cert. of Lawfulness is heard. Decision pending.
• 29Apr: The EA announce legal proceedings against Crouchland Farms Ltd in relation to Dec 2013 pollution of the River Kird. Crouchland Farms Ltd and Crouchland Biogas are linked; Leon Mekitarian is Director of both and Angus Cameron resigned directorship of Crouchland Farms in 2013. No announcements yet on 2015 / 2016 significant pollution incidents.• 29Mar: P.O.R.E receives a letter stating “The Gas Alliance Group (including Gas Bus Alliance) no longer take any Biomethane from Crouchland Farms Ltd or Crouchland Biogas Ltd.” and threatening legal action should villagers “communicate any information ... contrary to this statement”. The signatory is Tony Griffiths, former General Manager of MAN UK bus operations.
• 29 Mar: Barry Evans resigns from Crouchland Biogas.
• 16Mar: Another significant pollution incident occurs and while a cleanup in progress, SGN disassociate themselves stating Crouchland is separate and they have no corporate responsibility for the actions of this ‘autonomous’ company. All contrary to CEO John Morea’s 2013 Annual Report to shareholders, that Crouchland was SGN's partner; and from an email to WSCC 28Aug2014 supporting the retrospective planning application, stating "Our pioneering partnership with Crouchland Biogas..." And even though SGN have a fixed and floating charge on the property and undertakings of Crouchland Biogas Ltd, a company that has had multiple breaches of their EA Permit, has caused significant and serious pollution events, is operating without planning permission and is the subject of an ongoing Traffic Commissioners Public Inquiry.
• 4Mar: Crouchland Biogas apply to the EA to vary an environmental permit involving substantial change (EPR/CB3208XJ/V002).
• 12Jan2016: Farm Fuel Ltd called to a Traffic Commissioner enquiry for breaches to their Operator’s licence, effectively using the farm as an unauthorised Operating Centre.
• Nov2015: Plaistow & Ifold and Kirdford Parish Councils –with- The Plaistow Village Trust and P.O.R.E unite in opposition to launch a planning fund for expert / legal representation at the 4 Appeals.
• Oct: Crouchland lodge appeals with the Planning Inspectorate against the Enforcement Notices (to dismantle all equipment installed without planning permission and to stop operating as a commercial biogas plant); retrospective planning refusal and the Cert. of Lawfulness.
• 1Sep: WSCC issue a Certificate of Lawfulness EXCLUDING the conditioning and export of gas, importation of waste and any other materials for anaerobic digestion and many items of development.
• 16Jul: CDC issue 2 Enforcement Notices with staggered compliance dates for cease of use of the land and 6 months for the remaining requirements (PS/13/00015/CONCOU).
• 23Jun: The Environment Agency attends a pollution incident to 1km of an adjoining farm’s watercourse which has significant impact on the ecology and the ability to water livestock.
• 16Jun: CDC inform WSCC they strongly object to granting a Certificate of Lawfulness.
• 2Jun: WSCC pass CDC responsibility to investigate and serve Enforcement but are clear that multiple breaches of planning have occurred.
• 26May: Crouchland apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness for the proposed use as an AD facility with UNRESTRICTED throughput of imported waste or other material and the export of gas and digestate (WSCC/036/15/PS).
• 7Apr: WSCC issue a Decision Notice REFUSING retrospective planning.
• 4Mar-To Date: Despite planning refused, expansion continues. Ofgem confirm SGN Commercial Services owns equipment enabling gas conditioning and exportation in 'Farm Fuel' HGVs to SGN’s Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth injection facility.
• 3Mar: WSCC planning committee REFUSE the retrospective application on multiple grounds.
• WSCC receive 431+ objection letters (including from 7 Parish Councils / CPRE) and 1050+ people sign a petition, requesting refusal of retrospective planning.
• Unauthorised commercial operations continue with extremely high numbers of HGV and other traffic movements through Parishes.
• Oct2014: Inexplicably, WSCC Planning Officers withdraw enforcement notices leaving communities exposed to continued, excessive and inappropriate activity and HGV movements.
• 4Jul: Crouchland submit a retrospective planning application (WSCC/042/14/PS).
• May: The respected Crouchland Farm Manager (former NFU Deputy) resigns.
• Apr: WSCC serve 2 Enforcement Notices (against the erection of unauthorised anaerobic digestion equipment and the change from an operation ancillary to a farm use, to a waste use) requiring the illegal commercial activity to cease.
• Mar2014: After years of complaint of the expansion by stealth and material-change-of-use from an agricultural, farm-related operation into a waste development WSCC serve a Planning Contravention Notice.
• Mar2013: SGN sign a 20year contract BEFORE Crouchland obtain planning permission.
• 1Jan-Jun2013: Professional investors join as directors and/or shareholders: Barry Evans and Ewen ‘Angus’ Cameron (a cousin of PM David Cameron).
• 2012: Plaistow & Ifold Parish Council notify CDC of development/engineering works being undertaken without planning.
• 16Nov11: Leon Mekitarian appointed Managing Director.
• 20Apr11: Crouchland Biogas Ltd. incorporation - William Luttman-Johnson (registered owner of Crouchland Farm) as Managing Director.
• 2007-2008: Crouchland dairy farm with 750 Holstein Friesians, obtains planning consent (with local support) from CDC for an On-Farm AD unit to produce electricity to grid.

How it will be delivered

An email will be sent to Scotia Gas CEO and a Press Release issued.

United Kingdom

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Updates

2017-08-07 20:18:57 +0100

West Sussex County Times report Crouchlands Biogas, the company operating an anaerobic digestion plant at Crouchlands Farm in Plaistow & Ifold Parish, near Billingshurst, has gone into administration.
Read more at: http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/business/crouchlands-biogas-in-adminstration-1-8091744

2017-07-04 12:38:10 +0100

MONDAY, 10th JULY 2017 - from 4pm until 6pm.

Come walk / cycle / run / ride down Foxbridge Lane, Plaistow, West Sussex RH14 0LB.

Show your opposition to the unapproved Crouchland Biogas expansion.

Bring your dogs (on leashes), ride your horses or bicycles,...

Bring cash to buy Afternoon Tea from our Pop-Up Stall.

Even if it rains, put on your mac & wellies and show up.

All money raised goes to the Parish Councils Planning Appeal Fund to pay for legal and expert representation in the Crouchland Biogas Inquiry.

The Parish Councils represent our communities.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

Any Donations to the Appeal Fund or Pop-up Stall are Welcome.

For More Information Email: [email protected]

2017-03-28 10:28:38 +0100

The Planning Inspectorate are holding an Inquiry for 3 Appeals lodged by Crouchland against Enforcement and Planning Refusal. Legal representatives for the joint Parish Councils (Plaistow & Ifold and Kirdford), West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council, along with independent experts will take part. WHen? It will be held over 6 Non-Consecutive Days (from 10am): 25 April, 26 April, 27 April, 28 April, 3 May & 4 May. Where? The Conference Suite, Brinsbury Campus, Stane Street, North Heath, Pulborough RH20 1DL N.B. Brinsbury Campus is fully accessible by all including those with disabilities and mobility issues.

2017-01-08 15:07:00 +0000

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/crouchland

2017-01-08 15:04:59 +0000

For a Press Handout please email [email protected]

2017-01-01 16:24:46 +0000

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4078820/The-great-green-guzzler-Monster-digesters-meant-guzzle-waste-churn-eco-friendly-energy-fed-CROPS-produce-pitiful-levels-power-cost-216m-subsidies-HARM-environment.html

2016-10-01 17:50:53 +0100

It's not encouraging to hear that Crouchland have cash flow issues considering they're running all kinds of businesses from the site of Crouchland Farm causing all manner of issues in the parishes of Plaistow & Ifold and Kirdford. If you want to read an enraging article go to this one in the County Times and learn the paltry amount Crouchland have been fined for a pollution incident of the River Kird in 2013. One of many incidents. http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/dairy-farm-ordered-to-pay-8-000-for-polluting-sussex-river-1-7607298

2016-08-15 13:48:35 +0100

If any members of the press would like a Press Handout detailing the timeline of events in the Crouchland Biogas saga please email [email protected]

2016-08-14 15:13:07 +0100

Please keep sharing this petition with your neighbours, family and friends:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/crouchland

Anyone in the UK can and should sign this petition.
Taxpayers fund the subsidy Ofgem pay to companies such as Crouchland Biogas regardless if they have relevant planning permission or environmental permits.
This legislation must be changed.

2016-08-01 18:24:12 +0100

Sign this Petition to be sent to Rt Hon Greg Clark MP - Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/crouchland

As at 18 Jul 2016 Crouchland Biogas has been a recipient of £4,359,537 of taxpayer funded, Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidy, excluding the Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) they have also received. Why is Crouchland eligible for RHI when they did not and do not have appropriate planning permissions or bespoke Environment Agency permits? According to Ofgem, who administer RHI, if Crouchland are generating biomethane to the grid then they are eligible for the subsidy regardless of the absence of appropriate planning permissions or permits. Ofgem must amend the primary legislation governing the RHI schemes. Evidence of Council(s) planning permission(s) and EA permits must be required during application for RHI accreditation; and accreditation must be revoked if non-compliance or breaches occur.

2016-07-31 10:51:59 +0100

• 22 Jul 2016: Crouchland Farms Ltd pleaded GUILTY at Worthing Magistrates Court to illegally discharging polluting material to a watercourse (River Kird) on 02 December 2013. The court was not able to allocate time to hear the facts of the case, or sentence Crouchland Farms Limited. This has been adjourned until 30 September 2016 at 10am. The only current director of Crouchland Farm is Leon Mekitarian. The Company Secretary is Kwaku Acheampong Oduro. There has been no announcements yet of the other significant pollution events in 2015 and 2016.

2016-07-27 12:19:53 +0100

A FARM FUELS LIMITED HGV (OWNED BY CROUCHLAND BIOGAS LIMITED) OVERTURNS IN CRANLEIGH
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fporeorg%2Fposts%2F1743430242563580%3A0&width=500

2016-07-27 12:07:35 +0100

Crouchland Farms Limited pleaded GUILTY, on Friday, 22 July 2016 at Worthing Magistrates Court to illegally discharging polluting material to a watercourse (River Kird) on 02 December 2013. The court was not able to allocate time to hear the facts of the case, or sentence Crouchland Farms Limited. This has been adjourned until 30 September 2016 at 10am.
The only current director of Crouchland Farm Limited is Leon Mekitarian. The Company Secretary is Kwaku Acheampong Oduro. There has been no mention yet of the significant pollution events in 2015 and 2016.

2016-07-13 18:38:35 +0100

A new PM and, hopefully, a new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change: With a new Prime Minister appointed as of Wednesday 13 July 2016 and a new cabinet about to be announced, let's hope that brings a newly appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) who will, once and for all, cease payment of Ofgem RHI subsidies (taxpayer funds) to companies such as Crouchland Biogas Ltd. who did not obtain planning permissions.

2016-06-22 17:46:36 +0100

The Appeal by Crouchland Biogas Limited against the Lawful Development Certificate issued by West Sussex County Council is only in part.....Conclusions:
For the reasons given ... I conclude,... that the Council’s refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use or development in respect of the two metal containers to aid gas conditioning for biogas plant, ... and the conditioning and exportation of biogas was not well-founded and that the appeal in respect of these items and activity should succeed. ...

In respect of the separator and the flare, ..., and the importation of waste and any other materials for anaerobic digestion from land outside the boundaries of Crouchland Farm a...., I conclude that the Council’s refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use or development in respect of these items and activity was well-founded and that the appeal should fail....
Click Here to read the complete Appeal Decision: https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?Caseid=3137735&CoID=0