Proposed Super Diary, Nocton

A letter.

On Friday 6 August my wife and I attended an exhibition at Wood Lodge Farm, Dunston, organised by the developers of the so-called Super Dairy. The plan, the first of its type in Europe, is to house and intensively milk 8,100 cows on a 22 acre site at Nocton.

The proceedings were somewhat disorganised; we had difficulty in examining the proposals and had no opportunity to speak to the developers. However, we came away very concerned about the effect on the wider community, especially Metheringham, which is within two miles of the development site.

We understand that access and egress from the site is via the B1188, Lincoln to Sleaford road, which is a Red Route. The road serves a wide area, so a significant increase in heavy traffic, especially bulk milk carriers and vehicles transporting live and dead cattle, would exacerbate an already hazardous traffic situation.

The cows will produce millions of gallons of effluent which will be stored in slurry lagoons around a large area. The manure spreading plan covers fields around Nocton, Dunston, Metheringham, Scopwick and RAF Digby. We have particular concerns about the effect of the dispersal of effluent on public health. Particles in the air may exacerbate breathing problems for people suffering from asthma and similar complaints. This topic needs to be fully investigated.

Other pertinent issues include: animal welfare, the size and location of the operation, noise and emissions from the site, effluent treatment, light pollution, ecology, landscape, drainage, flies, smell, greenhouse gases and methane emissions, to name but a few.

In the United States operations like this are not allowed within 4 to 8 miles of communities. No doubt there are good reasons for these restrictions. We suspect that the concerns already expressed by Dunston residents may be shared by those of Metheringham, as the distance between the two settlements is approximately half a mile, which is no distance at all in terms of environmental impact.

At the time of writing this article (Aug 14), a revised planning application has not yet been submitted; the exhibition was not part of the formal planning process. However, if Metheringham, Scopwick and other residents have concerns, they should express them to their Parish, District and County Councillors, as well as to the Planning Department at North Kesteven District Council. If a revised application is submitted, details about its effect on Metheringham and surrounding area must then be circulated and a public meeting should be held in the village.

Concerned residents
Metheringham