Concerns over plan for bio-plant at Shropshire farm
Another anaerobic digestion plant using chicken waste could be built in the Shropshire countryside, it has been revealed.
Initial ideas for the bio-plant were put forward to parish councillors for the farm at Lower Heath Farm, in Prees near Whitchurch.
Prees Parish Council heard from a planning agent at its meeting, who outlined the plans.
Councillors heard the project would include using chicken waste from the existing poultry business to power the energy plant. But early fears have been raised about where other produce, including maize and silage, would come from and the increase of vehicle movements in the area.
Parish council clerk Lesley Rumney said: "We were contacted by the agent to say that they were intending to put a planning application in for an anaerobic digester and as part of that they were doing public consultation.
"They sent a map of the land and drawings of the plant.
"They agreed to come for a presentation and we had a few people from Higher Heath and the chair of governors from the school and a few local residents.
"We found that it was going to be sat on a chicken farm and it would use waste from the chicken sheds to power it.
"But it is only going to be 10 to 15 per cent that can be chicken waste so the rest is going to come from other sources like maize and silage crops.
"The farm doesn't have the acreage to support this so people wanted to know where it is going to come from. Residents were asking what the vehicle movements would be on and off the farm – that will be a main concern for people – but they are still drawing up reports for this."
The plans come a year after a controversial scheme for an anaerobic digestion plant put forward by Grocontinental in Whitchurch was given approval.
Other plants have been given permission in Woodseaves, near Market Drayton, and Wem.
Shropshire Councillor for Prees, Paul Gill, said although the initial idea had been put forward it was too early to say what the response would be.
He said: "The main concerns for local people will be vehicle movements, storage and the height of the building.
"We haven't had an application yet so it is difficult to say, and the agents did not have all of the information."
He said he expected a formal plan to be submitted soon.
