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 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.
An email will be sent to Scotia Gas CEO and a Press Release issued.
Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL
18 March: The lagoons at Crouchland Biogas are looking very full.
Without planning permission, we have to trust that the Environment Agency are keeping a close eye on the freeboard levels; the actual contents of those lagoons; the safety of the lagoon walls; and the operation and maintenance of the lagoons.
17 March update: We would like to thank the local community for their ongoing involvement in this incident. We have now identified the source of this significant pollution incident and have stopped any further polluting matter from escaping into the environment. We are working with the operator to ensure an effective clean-up operation takes place. We have 4 teams out on site dealing with the pollution and gathering evidence. We are talking to key witnesses from the local community to help inform our investigation. Our Area incident room remains open to co-ordinate our response to this significant pollution incident.
We will commit to update you again by lunchtime tomorrow, or sooner if we have any further details to share with you.
We ask that any further information be communicated to us using our incident hotline 0800 80 70 60.
16th March update from the Environment Agency, regarding TODAY'S pollution;
We would like to thank the local community for their reports regarding the pollution in the Plaistow area, we have deployed officers to the area to asses impact to the environment.
The area incident room has been opened to facilitate our response, information from the local residents and our officers is being used to investigate the cause of pollution and to form steps to stop any further impact.
We will commit to update information by tomorrow lunchtime or sooner if we have any further details.
We ask that any further information be communicated to us using our incident hotline 0800 80 70 60.
16 March: Polluting liquid yet again pouring through the neighbour's farm. Environment Agency on their way. Crouchland trying to bund the stream and to pump out the polluting material, but they are getting their equipment stuck in the sloping wet fields. Interesting to see this, having spent the past few days digesting their 240 page application for a new substantially changed bespoke Environmental Permit.
P.O.R.E IS RUNNING AN ONLINE AUCTION AND IT IS OPEN FOR BIDDING!
Community campaign group P.O.R.E is fundraising for legal and expert representation at four Crouchland Biogas appeal hearings. The Auction will conclude at 6pm on Thursday, 21st April 2016.
Click HERE to go to the AUCTION:
http://www.jumblebee.co.uk/crouchlandbiogasappealsfundraisingevent
To put the size of this system into perspective… [Crouchland Biogas Ltd.] built one of the largest biogas refining installations in the UK. …there are only 5 units in Europe that are the same size or larger. (AD Expert)
Retrospective Planning permission was refused and 2 enforcement were issued. However, Crouchland Biogas Limited have lodged four Appeals with the Planning Inspectorate.
Plaistow & Ifold -and- Kirdford Parishes with surrounding communities are UNITED in fighting the appeals.
For more information go to these links: P.O.R.E Facebook page: www.facebook.com/poreorg -or- P.O.R.E website: www.pore.org.uk
Read this update from Plaistow & Ifold Parish Council regarding the Crouchland Biogas appeal of their Certificate of Lawfulness (issued by West Sussex County Council) to be heard 12-13th May 2016.
http://www.plaistowandifold.org.uk/
In mid-2015 the Prime Minister announced measures to deal with the over-allocation of renewable energy subsidies (Feed-in Tariff and Renewable Obligation schemes) for solar farms and onshore wind. So what of the taxpayer funded RHI scheme (Renewable Heat Incentive scheme) from which the Crouchland Biogas directors/shareholders obtain benefit?
Director and major share-holder of Crouchland Biogas Ltd, Ewen 'Angus' Cameron, is the first cousin of the PRIME MINISTER.
If you haven’t yet received a Planning Appeal Fund leaflet from Plaistow & Ifold -and- Kirdford Parish Councils, Plaistow Village Trust and P.O.R.E cut and past this link to the Plaistow & Ifold Parish Council website in your browser to download – including a copy of the Charity Gift Aid Declaration: http://www.plaistowandifold.org.uk/FINAL%20Appeal%20Fund%20A5%204th%20Nov%202015.pdf
BREAKING NEWS FROM P.O.R.E Crouchland Biogas Ltd, have been called to a Public Inquiry by the Transport Commissioner - for suspected breaches to their Operator’s licence, effectively using Crouchland Farm as an unauthorised Operating Centre. Click this link to read more ⇒
https://www.facebook.com/poreorg/posts/1659644197608852:0
Follow P.O.R.E for updates.
Register with P.O.R.E to receive updates and find out about the Plaistow & Ifold Parish Council, Kirdford Parish Council, The Plaistow Village Trust and P.O.R.E Planning Appeal Fund.
www.pore.org.uk
Crouchland Biogas have now submitted 4 Appeals to The Planning Inspectorate. They're appealing the two Enforcement Notices issued by Chichester District Council (July 2015); the Retrospective Planning refusal by WSCC planning committee (3rd March 2015 ) and the Certificate of Lawful Use determined by WSCC planning committee (29th September 2015).
APP/L3815/C/15/3133236 Enforcement Notice Appeal: installation of a biogas digestion tank (etc)... LEAD CASE
APP/L3815/C/15/3133237 Enforcement Notice Appeal: change of use to a mixed use for agriculture and...
APP/P3800/W/15/3134445 Planning Appeal ( W ): Proposed upgrade of an existing anaerobic digestion...
APP/P3800/X/15/3137735 Lawful Development Certificate Appeal: The use of the items of operational development...
Despite refusal of retrospective planning and an amended Certificate of Lawful Use issued (excluding the conditioning and export of biogas; the importation of waste and any other materials for anaerobic digestion; -and- many items of unlawful development); Crouchland have lodged appeals with the Planning Inspectorate against the 2 Enforcement Notices issued by Chichester District Council 16th July 2015 (to dismantle all equipment installed without planning permission and to stop operating as a commercial biogas plant); and retrospective planning refusal by West Sussex County Council 3rd March 2015. It's expected that Crouchland will also appeal the Certificate of Lawful Use.
PLAISTOW & IFOLD PARISH COUNCIL, KIRDFORD PARISH COUNCIL, PLAISTOW VILLAGE TRUST AND P.O.R.E ARE UNITED IN OPPOSITION TO THE APPEALS.
Write to the Planning Inspectorate by 23Oct2015 to object the Crouchland Biogas appeal of 2 Chichester District Council enforcement notices. For help download a word doc format. Included are 3 reference nos. that must be quoted on each letter page. You must mail 3 copies of your letter.
click here for Word 97-2004 Document (.doc) letter
https://ifolduk.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/dont-forget-letter-to-the-planning-inspectorate-by-23rd-oct-re-crouchland/planning-inspectorate-crouchland-word-97-2004-document-doc/
OR;
click here for .docx Document format (.docx)
https://ifolduk.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/dont-forget-letter-to-the-planning-inspectorate-by-23rd-oct-re-crouchland/planning-inspectorate-crouchland-biogas/
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