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To: The West Sussex County Council – Planning Committee Members

Protect Rural Sussex Parishes from an unapproved industrial Biogas Plant

Crouchland Biogas Ltd. Plaistow, West Sussex enlarged, without planning permission, from a small on-farm Anaerobic Digestion facility to an Industrial-Scale Gas Plant. A retrospective planning application (WSCC/042/14/PS) is under consideration by West Sussex County Council. The WSCC Planning Committee are petitioned to refuse the application as it's detrimental to and not in the interests of the local communities.

Why is this important?

THE TIMELINE
2017:
• 25Apr: Inquiry into 3 Appeals against Enforcement and Planning Refusal begins. Legal counsels for Parish Councils, WSCC and CDC, with independent experts to take part.
• 29Mar: Leon Mekitarian, Director Farm Fuel faces suspension, curtailment or disqualification of operator's licence in new Traffic Commissioner's Public Inquiry.
• 27Feb: Appointment of Philip Gerrard (also Director, Eastern Counties Finance 1 Ltd, with whom Crouchland hold a mortgage & debenture) and Andrew Vernau as Directors to Crouchland Biogas Ltd.
• 6 Feb: Statements of Case by WSCC, CDC & Parish Councils for remaining Appeals submitted.
• 27Jan: Farm Fuel called to new Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry for alleged breaches of timing condition at company’s Woking operating centre and allegations of trailers used during suspension period.
• 23Jan: Crouchland submit 405 pages of new documents for Appeals rendering previous documents redundant as they disclose ‘new baseline’ for retrospective planning application refusal. The joint Parish Councils and legal counsel are left just 9 days to respond.
2016:
• 14Dec: The government confirms reformed Renewable Heat Incentive subsidy scheme. ‘all new Non-Domestic RHI applicants for accreditation and those seeking registration for injection of biomethane should have all necessary planning permissions in place before they are accredited / registered.’ It’s not implemented retrospectively so Crouchland still claim large subsidy.
• 30Nov: Farm Fuel licence suspension begins. No HGVs allowed to leave Woking Operating Centre for 2 weeks.
• 10Nov: After Farm Fuel licence suspension, CEO John Morea - Southern Gas Networks (SGN) confirms "We would expect the contractor in question to comply with the suspension and have informed Crouchland Biogas Ltd we won’t be accepting any biomethane from this particular gas transportation source during its suspension."
• 3Nov: Traffic Commissioner suspends Farm Fuel HGV licence for 2 weeks (1-15 Dec). The unauthorised use has been extensive, prolonged and the operator sought to conceal the extent of this.
• 30Sep: Crouchland Farms fined.
• 22Jul: Crouchland Farms plead guilty to illegally discharging polluting material to River Kird on 02Dec2013. No announcements yet on significant pollution events in 2015 & 2016.
• 18Jul: Ofgem respond to a FOI request and advise Crouchland have received £4,359,537 in RHI subsidy from financial year 2014/15.
• 22Jun: The Planning Inspectorate publish Appeal decision re: the Certificate of Lawful Use granted by WSCC. The appeal allowed in part. The Inspector concludes that WSCC’s refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use or development in respect of the two metal containers to aid gas conditioning for the biogas plant, attached to the LDC 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, attached to the LDC, and the importation of waste and any other materials for anaerobic digestion from land outside the boundaries of Crouchland Farm, the Inspector concluded that WSCC’s refusal to grant a cert. of lawful use or development in respect of these items and activity was well-founded and that the appeal should fail. (APP/P3800/X/15/3137735).
• 27May: Crouchland seeks adjournment to EA legal case.
• 17May: Traffic Inquiry reconvenes.
• 11-12May: Appeal against Cert. of Lawfulness is heard.
• 29Apr: The Environment Agency announce legal proceedings against Crouchland Farms for Dec2013 pollution of River Kird.
• 29Mar: P.O.R.E receives 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 to any Bodies or Persons which is contrary to this statement”. Tony Griffiths is signatory, former General Manager of MAN UK bus operations.
• 29 Mar: Barry Evans resigns from Crouchland Biogas.
• 16Mar: Another significant pollution incident occurs and while cleanup in progress SGN disassociate themselves stating Crouchland is separate and they have no corporate responsibility for the actions of this autonomous company. Contrary to CEO John Morea’s 2013 Annual Report 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 though SGN have a fixed / floating charge on the property / undertakings of Crouchland Biogas.
• 4Mar: Crouchland apply to substantially vary EA environmental permit (EPR/CB3208XJ/V002).
• 12Jan: Farm Fuel called to Traffic Commissioner enquiry for breaches to Operator’s licence ie. using the farm as an unauthorised Operating Centre.
2015:
• Nov: Parish Councils launch planning fund for expert / legal counsel.
• Oct: Crouchland lodge Appeals against Enforcement Notices (to dismantle all equipment installed without planning permission & to stop operating as a commercial biogas plant); retrospective planning refusal and Cert. of Lawfulness.
• 1Sep: WSCC issue Cert. of Lawfulness excluding conditioning & export of gas, importation of waste & 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 land and 6mths for remaining requirements (PS/13/00015/CONCOU).
• 23Jun: The EA attends pollution incident on adjoining farm’s watercourse with significant impact on ecology & ability to water livestock.
• 16Jun: CDC inform WSCC they strongly object to granting Cert. of Lawfulness.
• 2Jun: WSCC pass CDC responsibility to investigate & serve Enforcement but are clear multiple planning breaches have occurred.
• For events prior to 2Jun15 contact PORE.

How it will be delivered

Email and Press Conference

Crouchland Farm, Rickman's Lane, Plaistow RH14 0LE, West Sussex

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Category

Links

Updates

2017-01-01 16:22:57 +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

2016-12-16 12:05:46 +0000

On 14 Dec 2016, the Dept. Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy announced a reformed Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme. Our battle continues to safeguard the proper use of public funds and ensure these reforms include the current Crouchland Biogas AD site, which does not have planning consent.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/577024/RHI_Reform_Government_response_FINAL.pdf

PLANNING PERMISSION: ...all new plant, as well as additional capacity added to existing plant, ...should be required to have any necessary planning permission in place in order to be eligible for support through the non-domestic RHI... This means...where planning permission is challenged or withdrawn Ofgem...will be able to take appropriate action in the form of suspending, withholding or recovering payments...this requirement will include obtaining any planning permission required to produce the biogas from which the biomethane is produced...

2016-10-07 13:53:29 +0100

Crouchland have submitted a new planning application for a mega-dairy. Even though they have been howling about the downturn in the dairy industry. This latest proposal intends to intensify the intrusive, disruptive and harmful industrial operations in rural, countryside Parishes. The poor herd will have to suffer being housed permanently inside an aircraft hanger barn driven mad by constant noise / light emissions (look at Crouchland from the PROW Path No: 643 at night). As there are numerous outstanding appeals this all seems like an elaborate ploy to import materials for the anaerobic digestion unit. In June 2016 the Planning Inspectorate ruled - Importation of waste or any other materials from land outside the boundary of Crouchland Farm is deemed unlawful.

Go to Chichester District Council website and object: https://publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=OCI8XOERJSB00
Or Email direct: [email protected]

2016-10-01 17:50:28 +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

2016-09-08 13:17:59 +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

2016-09-02 17:47:48 +0100

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

2016-08-15 13:46:40 +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 15:12:50 +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 20:36:46 +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

2016-08-01 18:23:49 +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 10:51:39 +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.

2016-07-31 10:34:07 +0100

https://ifolduk.wordpress.com/2016/07/29/do-you-think-4359537-well-spent-in-the-interest-of-the-public/

2016-07-27 12:08:33 +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 12:07:12 +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 18:39:04 +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.