13 June 2005

BANHAM POULTRY LODGES RENEWABLE POWER PLANT APPEAL

Banham Poultry today confirmed that a statutory appeal has been lodged with the Secretary of State against Norfolk County Council's decision to turn down the company's plans to develop a pioneering renewable energy plant on the outskirts of Attleborough.

The Council's Planning Committee refused the application last December on the grounds that insufficient evidence had been provided to guarantee that the development would not give rise to odour problems for local residents.

Announcing the formal appeal process, Banham Poultry Director Robin Goram said:

'This project is vital for the future of our company and the 750 local jobs we support. Our decision to appeal also sends a clear signal that while politicians talk the talk about waste, energy security and climate change, we're actually trying to do something about it. Our proposal will help secure three key objectives for the Norfolk area - reducing waste to landfill, increasing renewable energy supplies and cutting CO2 emissions. It will also take 90% of our waste lorries off the roads through Attleborough, which we know is a concern for local people.'

'We recognise that residents of Attleborough and the surrounding area are concerned about new developments on their doorstep. Issues like noise and smell are clearly top of mind for people living in the neighbourhood, and they rightly want to know that their lives will not be blighted. That's precisely why projects like this must undergo rigorous environmental checks before they can proceed.'

'The technical evidence in favour of our application is overwhelming, supported not only by Environment Agency approval, but also positive endorsement by an independent technical report commissioned by the County Council itself.'

'The comprehensive data package we have assembled in support of this appeal leaves no stone unturned, and we are obviously pleased that the appeal process will be conducted strictly according to the application's technical justification. The legal advice we have received in preparing the appeal has confirmed our initial view that last December's decision was not backed up by the evidence presented to the Committee.'

'Clearly this project is entirely compatible with Government policy objectives to promote renewable energy, recycle waste and tackle global warming. These objectives will simply not be achieved if innovative plans like ours are turned down on emotional rather than technical grounds. Competitiveness, jobs and the environment will inevitably suffer if innovation is stifled just because it's new, or unfamiliar.'

'As a company, we have been more active in describing our plans and what they will mean for local people. We have also established a liaison group in partnership with Attleborough Town Council, to improve communication between Banham Poultry and the local community. We have already paid a heavy price for not telling people enough about what we're doing, and we're trying hard to put that right. I believe there is now an increasing sense of local understanding and support for the company's plans, and a growing recognition that this project will be a benefit, not a blight, for the town and people of Attleborough.'

– last updated 13.6.05