To: npcu@gowm.gsi.gov.uk
Subject: Re: Anaerobic Digester at Sellindge, Kent
Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 08:35:54 +0100
Dear Tara,
From your last letter you said that you had forwarded my letter to Paul Carter, Leader of KCC. I have written to Mr Carter and have found that his attitude wont be changed. I have attached my reply to him (copy below). As you will see that when the locality in which he lives was threatened his approach was entirely different. This is always the same, when those in authority have a problem it is treated completely different to those who have no clout.
This morning BBC Kent did an article on our problem. It was brief but to the point. The joke was the reply from KCC where they said that a proper debate was undertaken when the application came before the Committee. As today's programme stated, the people of Sellindge were flabbergasted with the way the application was considered. They just couldn't believe what they were seeing and hearing. The central theme was to save KCC money and nothing else and we are supposed to live in a DEMOCRACY, some democratic procedure! Quite honestly the behaviour of the Application Committee would be ideal for a TV farce, with two members asleep and the bulk just sitting there. I have asked Sharon Thompson how much money these people are paid to attend the meeting but so far she has failed to answer. To be facetious, Ovaltine should be provided to help these poor old devils relax!!!!
Thank you.
Fred Turton
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13th May 2012
Dear Mr Carter,
Re: Anaerobic Digester Plant at Sellindge.
Thank you for your letter of the 27th April concerning the above Planning Application.
I fully understand the legality of the application but you must agree that from a democratic point of view it’s disgraceful. How can a Committee of about 15 councillors completely ignore the wishes of thousands of people? The Meeting was not a debate but only four people speaking with three other councillors sleeping during the process. The petition from the Sellindge residents was presented by our County Councillor, Susan Carey, who was allowed to speak and then the petition was completely ignored. You say that Sharon Thompson acted in a professional way. I don’t regard having a prepared summary already typed out as professional behaviour. Added to this, she told the Committee that the application is legal and if it’s rejected will cost KCC a lot of money when Countrystyle appeal. Again, is this professional behaviour where cost is the deciding factor and not the affect on the local environment?
I have received a copy of the situation when Countrystyle were considering building a Recycling Plant at Hollingbourne, where I believe you live. I don’t know how true this is so perhaps you can refute it, but the person who sent it said it was authentic. In it the argument was put forward that the Plant should not be built for many reasons. The leading people against it were Hugh Robertson MP, Sandy Bruce Lockhart and you. Hugh Robertson stressed the points that the Plant would impact on the landscape, cause a terrible smell and create large vehicle movements. He said that we need to conserve the Kent Countryside as Hollingbourne had suffered enough through the introduction of the M20 and CTRL, which had scarred the landscape and the environment. He continued by saying enough is enough and the Garden of England must be maintained. We must fight and preserve it before it’s too late. If this is true and I am sure you will tell me if it’s not, then the people of Sellindge are in an identical position. Added to our situation are the Converter Station and now the possibility of a Vehicle Park that will be used if there is a strike in France. If the points mentioned are true then you should be sympathetic to our cause.
As I understand it, Countrystyle will have almost 180 lorry movements a day in the delivery of material needing recycling. This will place a large burden on the A20 and I am sure eventually cause a serious accident. It’s all very well the authorities saying that the road can take this amount of traffic but it means one vehicle every six minutes, that’s if they arrive separately. What will possibly happen is that there will be a queue outside the entrance that will hold up the flow of traffic. As the vehicle leaving must cross the path of the incoming vehicle I can see an impatient driver accelerating to get past and then colliding. Another problem is that the Site will be dealing with waste food. I remember about two years ago standing on the other side of the A20 opposite the café when a waste food refuse collection vehicle passed me and went into the café car park. The stench was absolutely terrible and I said to the person next to me that the driver needs a medal. Finally, several weeks ago a reporter went to one of these Anaerobic Digester Plants and showed just one lorry load. She concluded by saying “What a terrible pong”.
I realise that you are very busy man so if you don’t reply I will understand why. If I have said anything that isn’t true then I hope you will correct me.
Thank you.
Fred Turton.
