Plans to convert chicken poo into renewable gas at Anwick, near Sleaford, labelled ‘environmental threat’

Plans have been submitted for a biogas plant which has been labelled ‘an environmental threat’ by campaigners.

The plant near Sleaford would process 120,000 tonnes of chicken poo and waste feedstock per year into a form of renewable gas.

Planning documents state it would be built close to Anwick village, next to the Moy Park poultry factory.

The application has been in the works for more than a year and has recently been submitted – although an action group has already been formed and a petition against it has gathered more than 500 signatures.

They say traffic, bad smells and the environmental impact would threaten their way of life, but the developer StreamBioenergy UK denies this.

The facility would harness anaerobic digestion to break down organic matter, creating biogas which can be pumped into the national gas grid.

The petition on Change.org claims: “StreamBioenergy’s plan represents a significant environmental threat, with far-reaching consequences that could affect the health of the UK’s land, water and air.

“The proposal ignores critical concerns about the well-being of Anwick residents that will endure increased traffic congestion, odour, and disruption from both construction and the ongoing transportation of waste if the plant is approved.”

It describes biogas plants as ‘carrying considerable biohazard risks’.

However, StreamBioenergy has said that anaerobic digestion is a naturally occurring process that can create renewable energy from waste products.

Planning documents say the designs ‘ensure the plant can operate efficiently while minimising any potential impacts as much as possible’ and that it will be highly regulated.

It promises to carefully control smells and noise, and says the facility won’t be an eyesore in this location.

The plans also claim that the added traffic wouldn’t be noticeable, with most of the waste and feedstock coming from the local area.

The developer had previously suggested processing 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, but this was scaled back after feedback from the community.

The proposals will be determined by Lincolnshire County Council and are currently open for public comment on its website.