Anaerobic digester in Wem given go-ahead by councillors

The anaerobic digestion plant will be built at a farm in Lee Brockhurst near Wem as part of a diversification to produce renewable energy and bio-fertiliser from crops grown on the farm.

By converting the crops grown on the farm the plant will produce enough electricity per year to power around 300 homes.

Alan Hedley, parish clerk for Moreton Corbet and Lee Brockhurst Parish Council, said the parish council was "broadly supportive" of the proposal.

In a comment to Shropshire Council he said: "Some concerns were expressed about the tractor and trailer traffic during the harvesting of maize for the digester which will be disruptive, albeit for about three weeks annually.

"Villagers also wished to see close monitoring of the screening trees to ensure that they are effective in their task."

The applicant Manor Farming Company said slurry and rye and maize silage will be the main fuel used in the plant.

In a document the applicant says: "At Manor Farm the biogas will be used to fuel a single combined heat and power unit which will produce electricity mainly to be exported to the grid, with only a fraction being used to run the machinery, and high temperature hot water (some of which will be used to keep the anaerobic digester at an elevated temperature, with the rest being available for the adjacent agricultural units and for the digestate drier to produce higher quality fertiliser).

"Both forms of energy utilisation will result in reduced dependence on fossil fuel and a contribution of renewable energy from local generation for use in the local community.

"Farm traffic associated with the installation will be kept to existing farm tracks and should not cause any disruptions to traffic in the area.

"There will be no increase in the farm traffic for this plant compared to the current farming operations.

"Any increase in noise levels or odour will be minimal and should be insignificant due to the size of the development and current agricultural operations in the vicinity."

Last year, controversial plans put forward by haulage firm Grocontinental for an anaerobic digestion plant were approved for land opposite its site in Whitchurch.

A petition opposing those plans gained more than 1,000 signatures – but councillors voted unanimously in favour of the scheme.

This week proposals put forward by farming business HLW Farms for an anaerobic digestion plant in Hollins Lane in Woodseaves, near Market Drayton, were given the go ahead by planning officers using delegated powers at a meeting of the council's north planning committee