Do you remember the campaign against plans to construct an 8,100 cow factory in Nocton? If so, you might be interested in a recent article published in Private Eye:
The Agri Brigade by 'Bio-Waste Spreader'
'Neighbours of Peter Willes, one of the farmers behind Nocton, are still suffering from the expansion of his existing dairy in Devon where he has built a huge slurry lagoon without planning permission.
When Nocton was proposed Willes already had a history of rule breaking:
- A big fine for "gross pollution" of a tributary of the River Torridge
- A 12-month conditional discharge for "veterinary medicines offences" and
- A retrospective planning application for a large slurry lagoon at Sedborough Farm, Parkham.'
Latest infractions
Although the retrospective planning application for the Sedborough Farm slurry lagoon was granted on 10 December 2012, it included an obligation to incorporate a cover over the lagoon within 3 months of the decision date. Mr Willes tried to have this condition removed, but failed in his attempt and it seems there is still no sign of a cover having been installed. The article mentions:
'It is hoped TDC will soon serve a breach of condition notice on Willes, followed by a possible £20,000 fine and a "cease of use" order.'
There is also the matter of another huge slurry lagoon having been constructed without permission at Beckland Farm, near Hartland, Devon. In this case, Torridge District Council refused a retrospective application from Mr Willes on 6 November 2014, due to an absence of updated information on cow numbers and amount of slurry likely to be produced (the lagoon could hold up to 29,000 cubic metres of waste).
The article concludes:
'Whatever the outcome of Willes' battles with local residents and TDC planners, he is a reminder that, on a crowded island, planning laws to regulate the intensification of dairying need to be strengthened urgently.'
http://www.private-eye.co.uk/index.php
Torridge District Council
You can find the two relevant planning applications on the Torridge District Council planning portal using the references:
1/1110/2010 - Sedborough Farm - application permitted, but with conditions.
1/0046/2012 - Beckland Farm - application refused.
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