Almost 100 objections have been lodged to a major dairy firm’s plans to create a biogas plant near Kippen which could be decided next week.
Graham’s the Family Dairy (Property) Ltd has submitted an application to Stirling Council seeking permission to install an anaerobic digester - which would turn cow manure and dairy bi-products into biomethane - on land 255 metres north east of Mains of Boquhan.
Council planners are recommending conditional approval of the application for the site, which extends to 1.9 hectares and lies north of the A811 on open Carseland.
However, it has been referred to the authority’s planning panel for councillors to decide, given the level of objection.
In a report due before Tuesday’s panel, council planners said the proposal was part of Graham’s plans to “decarbonise the business”.
Initially SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) submitted a holding objection saying they required more information on potential odour nuisance and feedstock handling and storage, however they have since withdrawn this.
A total of 103 letters of comment were received - one in support, five not indicating either objection or support, and 97 objecting. Included in the objections were Kippen and Gargunnock Community Councils.
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Concerns cited included pollutants reaching local watercourses, public health risk, odours, explosive hazard, inappropriate rural location, light pollution from digester flares, potential for increasing industrialisation of the Carse and over-inflation by the applicant of the environmental benefits.
The objectors also claimed the site had been chosen since the applicant’s plans for a site at Cowdenbeath had been rejected with over 300 objections.
In a report due before next week’s panel, however, council planners said: “SEPA offered no objection to the development on flood risk grounds. Any flood risk to the site is limited and will be mitigated due to the bunds required under pollution prevention control/waste management licence regulations.
“This site is owned by the applicant and will benefit from the proximity to the existing agricultural and dairy operations which the applicant runs nearby.
“The applicant has established businesses within the Stirling area which currently benefit the Stirling economy. This proposal will complement those businesses whilst contributing to a reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions of the applicant’s businesses.”
The process would turn dairy and agricultural waste from Graham’s Cowdenbeath, Boquhan and Airthrey Kerse sites into 98 per cent methane, to be used as a renewable source of heat for Graham’s soft cheese production at Glenfield Dairy in Cowdenbeath and also to replace diesel as HGV fuel.
Digestate produced as part of the process would be used on adjoining farmland owned by them at Boquhan, replacing fossil fuel derived fertiliser.
“This proposal also benefits from being accommodated within the existing group of farm buildings which are remote from residential properties,” said the planners’ report.
The planners said an air quality and odour assessment considered key aspects to be operational effects such as releases along with dust emissions and construction impacts.
They added: “The assessment concluded that in terms of the operation of the proposed facility, the stack emissions and fugitive emissions will be well within acceptable levels at identified residential or sensitive ecological receptors and will not give rise to any significant adverse effects.
“Dust and odour emissions were anticipated to be less significant than similar process activities in agricultural areas.
“SEPA’s air quality specialists reviewed the assessment and had no concerns that air quality standards will be breached from these sources.
“ Artificial lighting will be directed to minimise light spill. The flare is shrouded and therefore will not be visible to the naked eye.”
Daytime noise was said to comply with criteria, however this was exceeded for two out of four ‘receptors’ at night-time.
“One of these receptors is owned by the applicant,” they added, “and is located in an operational farmyard connected to this proposal. The assessment concluded that, due to the very low background noise levels, the proposed plant would not cause an adverse impact.”
They said there would be no increase in tanker movements in and out of the site as a result of the proposals and that Mains of Boquhan junction onto the A811 would be altered to restrict HGVs undertaking a right turn into the site.
