WE NEED YOUR HELP
BLOCK (Block Biogas Located in Open Countryside) is a community action group. It represents Gunby, Stainby, Colsterworth, Sewstern and the wider villages that will be affected by plans to build the UK’s largest industrial gas to grid biomethane plant on agricultural land between Gunby and Sewstern.
The plant will produce gas by digesting whole crops such as maize, rye and barley. It will need to be fed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In a year will require over 129,000 tonnes of input, and over 100,000 tonnes of digestate bi product will come out it.
Some feedstock will be stored at the site itself, but much of it will come from a satellite clamp east of the A1, from a site not yet disclosed, along the B676 and through Colsterworth and Stainby. The HGVs and tractors and trailers hauling feedstock to the site will increase the traffic load through all the surrounding villages. Our road infrastructure is already at breaking point, especially around the B676 and the A1.
In January 2025 with much community support, BLOCK successfully persuaded SKDCs Planning Committee to refuse the application. The developer appealed and their appeal will be heard at Inquiry on December 16th.
SKDC planning department advised their planning committee that on the strength of an updated transport statement by the developer, they should now not contest the appeal.
BLOCK is not persuaded by this new traffic plan. There are many omissions and inaccuracies in the planning applications which leave the surrounding villages vulnerable. The application does not conform to SKDC planning policies. This plant is the wrong size and in the wrong location. It should be sited next to an A road, like the developer’s other site at Gonerby Moor north of Grantham.
BLOCK must take on the responsibility for fighting the appeal at the Inquiry when SKDC will not. It will need to call expert witnesses and provide sound legal arguments. This requires money. This Go Fund Me page has been set up to help mitigate these costs.
It is relying on the continued support of you, its local community, on whose behalf this case is being argued. If it goes ahead, this development will be situated on a 15-acre site between the small villages of Gunby and Sewstern. It will be visible form the A1and another scar on the local countryside.
Any donations will be greatly appreciated and will help keep our quiet rural villages as they should be. If you would like to learn more visit SKDCs planning portal and view case reference S24/0568 or email us on [email redacted]
Most importantly PLEASE DONATE via
Thankyou
Impact on the road network
The industrial gas plant will be in a field served by narrow rural lanes remote from a suitable highway network. An access road will be built across more agricultural land to link north to the B676, a minor local road.
Over 100 lorry movements a day will pass through local villages including Stainby, Colsterworth, Buckminster, Coston, and beyond towards Melton Mowbray. Many of the crops will also be transported along upgraded farm tracks to local roads affecting many more villages.
Impact on the UKs food security
A huge area of agricultural land once used to grow food crops will be taken out of production with crops being grown specifically to rot down to produce all the gas being sold to industry. This at a time when food security and UK grown food has been identified as a priority for farmers.
No community benefit
The gas produced at the plant is methane which will be sold directly for consumption by industry elsewhere in the country. The gas will not be used to heat local homes, nor power local business.
Impact on the rural landscape
The proposed site, an agricultural field, is designated as open countryside. The gently rolling countryside, characteristic of the Kesteven Uplands means that the industrial gas plant will be visible from far afield - spoiling highly valued views and rural amenity for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and other visitors. Light and noise pollution will impact both wildlife and local residents.
Impact on wildlife
Replacing agricultural fields (approximately the area of 9 full size football pitches) and the addition of new access road and upgraded farm tracks, impacting trees and hedgerows will all harm wildlife. Soil will be replaced with concrete hard standing and structures made of concrete, steel and plastic. Once destroyed this landscape, that has evolved and been cultivated over centuries, will never be recovered.
No net green benefits
Although methane (a ‘hydrocarbon’) produced by anaerobic digestion is deemed to be ‘green gas’, it produces carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) when burnt to produce heat. Other forms of renewable energy provide greener alternatives. Ironstone Energy intends to use 100% energy crop input it will not address the huge quantities of organic waste produced in our region.
Even if you support biogas production – we urge you to oppose Ironstone Energy’s planning application, any benefits they might claim are outweighed by the resources used to build the plant and the diesel HGVs transporting crops, slurry and CO2 and the need to import food from abroad.
Organizer
Jamie Smith
Organizer