Skip to main content

To: Rt Hon Greg Clark MP - Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Amend the primary legislation governing Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes

Ofgem must amend the primary legislation governing the RHI schemes accreditation and management. Evidence of County and/or District Councils planning permission(s) and Environment Agency permits must be required during application for RHI accreditation; and

RHI accreditation must be revoked if non-compliance or breaches with planning or environmental permits occur.

Cease payment of taxpayer funded, Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to Crouchland Biogas Limited.

Why is this important?

A lack of governance and bad legislation, defined and managed by the Gas and Electricity Market Authority (Ofgem), allows Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) - government subsidy - to be awarded to Crouchland Biogas Limited, a company that does not have appropriate Planning permissions or Environment Agency permits.

An industrial biogas plant was built by Crouchland Biogas Limited without required planning consents in Plaistow & Ifold -and- Kirdford Parishes, West Sussex. As at 18 July 2016 Crouchland Biogas has received £4,359,537 of taxpayer-funded RHI subsidy. Why is Crouchland Biogas 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 Biogas are generating biomethane to the grid then they are eligible for the subsidy regardless of the absence of appropriate planning permissions or permits.

Ofgem are compelled to amend the primary legislation governing the RHI schemes. Evidence of County and/or District Councils planning permission(s) and Environment Agency permits must be required during application for RHI accreditation; and RHI accreditation must be revoked if non-compliance or breaches with planning or environmental permits occur.

For more information: www.facebook.com/poreorg -or- www.pore.org.uk

How it will be delivered

Representatives from the communities of Plaistow & Ifold -and- Kirdford Parishes, West Sussex seek a meeting with Rt Hon Greg Clark MP - Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to personally deliver this petition and discuss the issues surrounding Crouchland Biogas Limited.

United Kingdom

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Links

Updates

2016-09-08 13:06:48 +0100

A resident has made a video to show how he feels about the Crouchland Biogas situation. Take a look and please share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mups0DbqE-I

2016-09-02 17:48:51 +0100

Crouchland submits application to upgrade dairy farming facilities
http://www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/news/politics/crouchland-submits-application-to-upgrade-dairy-farming-facilities-1-7553662

2016-08-24 13:39:48 +0100

Crouchland are now suddenly concerned about the communities being inflicted by their invasive industrial operations. They want residents to report issues to them. If they are that concerned they should have applied for appropriate planning permissions from the outset and not gone about things by stealth.
To all local residents: If you are disturbed by noise or smell from Crouchland Biogas, call the Environmental Health Department on 0800 80 70 60.
Don’t forget that the outrage is taxpayers fund the unlawful Crouchland Biogas operations because Ofgem pay them government subsidy. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION TODAY =>> https://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/crouchland

2016-08-15 13:46:17 +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 15:12:15 +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.

2016-08-10 20:29:31 +0100

From CPRE Sussex Countryside Trust: Crouchland Biogas: is this sustainable development?
CPRE Sussex is supporting 'Protect Our Rural Environment' (PORE) and voicing concern about the Crouchland Biogas plant in Plaistow, West Sussex.
http://www.cpresussex.org.uk/news/news-from-sussex-districts/chichester/item/2728-crouchland-biogas-is-this-sustainable-development

Thank you for your support!
P.O.R.E

2016-08-07 15:06:14 +0100

A digestate tanker rolls over at a farm in Cranleigh
https://www.facebook.com/poreorg/photos/a.1475663742673566.1073741830.1453190901587517/1743430242563580/?type=3&theater

2016-08-07 15:04:41 +0100

2016 significant pollution incident
https://www.facebook.com/poreorg/photos/a.1475663742673566.1073741830.1453190901587517/1690657514507520/?type=3&theater

2016-08-01 20:56:37 +0100

100 signatures reached

2016-08-01 18:27:41 +0100

50 signatures reached

2016-08-01 15:25:26 +0100

25 signatures reached

2016-07-31 18:06:57 +0100

10 signatures reached

2016-07-31 14:36:45 +0100

Crouchland Biogas should not be eligible for RHI when they did not and do not have appropriate planning permissions or bespoke Environment Agency permits. It is a scandal that they have received £4,359,537 of taxpayer funded, Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidy, excluding the Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) they have also received.