Blott on the Landscape
The thin end of the wedge is how several residents have described the development at Broadbridge Farm. Olus have applied for full scale composting on seven acres of concrete (about six Ashington football fields) and in so doing put to the County Council a decision that might open the door more for all types of later applications.
Birds-eye view indicating traffic routes to and from A24
The trend for greener energy is suggesting sewage farms will be converted to capture methane and generate electricity. The very small one for Ashington is next door to the site. This is not justification and should not be considered by planners as it would not produce enough methane (the plant would fit on the sewage works site to deal with this level of methane!!).
Compost produces methane as it rots.
It would be a natural next step to apply for permission to build enclosed bio-digesters and feed gas to generating plant and take up yet more land with concrete and buildings. Is this part of Olus long-term plans?
The economies of scale mean this may only be viable and economic if even more lorries of waste and more rotten, industrial sources and stinking food waste are used. In America these pioneering plants are located miles from peoples homes and operate 24hrs a day for maximum efficiency.
This decision by Planning officers is likely to be "whether to put forward Ashington as the Bio-electric generating centre for Sussex or not" long-term.
A green light now, might later down the line result in new larger junctions being built to access the farm off the A24. The only way to make access safer yet destroying even more of the farm as the site inevitably expands.
In NIMBY terms the Council Planners are deciding where to put this and meet Gov't targets and they do not want it in their areas so it could end up in Ashington.
...it does not have to be like this.
Ashington has one of the best reputation schools in Sussex, the village won village of the year several years running for community spirit among other factors. It has one of the most thriving diverse and complete spectrum of activities and amenities for it's residents in the country.
If you value these things you might object to this planning application as soon as possible and in the strongest terms.
Already residents are telling me they will sell up if this application gets approved - they don't want to live with this "Massive Industrial Eyesore potentially affecting their health, well being, home values, travel safety, air quality, local walks, local views, local wildlife, community as a whole etc..."
There are those who support this application and it would appear to me they are those that might see some personal financial gain from the long-term project. Local farmers might get compost for example and neighbours might sell land as the site expands or get their own developments approved for similar projects on green-belt land.
The real losers are likely to Ashington village residents both financially and loss of character of a lovely village to live in.
Your village needs YOU.
The area surrounding Ashington is largely low population see this map for an indication of how poorly considered the proposed location is and there is no justification for saying access to A24 is a factor.
Surrounding area
Right idea wrong location in my opinion.
The opinions expressed are those of Neville Clark and based on comments from residents of the village told to him. You are encouraged to make your own judgements and substantiate any facts for yourself before forming an opinion.
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