A MAJOR landowner has objected to proposals for a slurry lagoon, claiming the scheme will harm the area.
Mark Westgath, of Newsham Hall Farm, has submitted a notice to Durham County Council asking if a planning application is needed for a 60m by 40m lagoon.
The site is in open countryside, 650m west of Southorpe Farm, 680m north of the caravan and camping site at Thorpe Farm and 720m south-west of Thorpe Hall.
However, Sir Andrew Morritt, the owner of Rokeby Park, has objected.
His agent, William Salvin, wrote to planners: “We act for the owners of Rokeby Park, Mortham Tower and Thorpe Hall – immediately to the west and east of the proposed location.
“The proposed development is not respectful of the character and constraints of the location. No details are provided for the type of material to be stored (other than the general term ‘slurry’), nor where this emanates from, the number of vehicle movements involved, management of run off and rain water.
“The Teesdale Way runs to the north of the site and the River Tees is within a short distance – no hydrological studies or impact assessments have been made, nor most importantly odour management mitigation plans prepared for the delivery, storage and emptying of the proposed lagoon.
“For these reasons, we consider that the Prior Notice Procedure is inappropriate.”
Gary Swarbrick, ELG Planning, on behalf of the applicant, said the slurry pit would cover 2,400sq metres.
The proposed lagoon would be enclosed by bunding, he said.
The main farmstead and working buildings at Newsham Hall Farm, which has 3,311 sows, 4,000 finishers and 10 boars, are about 2.3km to the south-east of the site.
Mr Swarbrick said: “There is currently insufficient storage capacity on this part of the holding and the proposals will enable sufficient capacity to be provided so that spreading can take place when required and there is a readily available supply on site.
“The lagoon will be used to store slurry, which will be used as a fertiliser to condition the soil and the nutrient of the crops grown on the holding. The use of slurry as a fertiliser will also enhance the sustainability credentials of the business by reducing reliance on manufactured chemical fertilisers.
“There is a current lack of sufficient storage capacity which causes obvious logistical issues at spreading times, as slurry has to be imported in from elsewhere and there is no guarantee that the requisite volume will be available to be imported at the optimal times of year when the uptake of key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium within the crops is at its greatest.
“The proposed lagoon would therefore offer a practical cost-effective solution.”
However, in its initial report, Durham County Council said that no details have been provided about how the applicant would identify any leaks in the slurry lagoon, or how the remote slurry lagoon would be protected from potential vandalism.
This comes weeks after vandals were blamed for vandalising a slurry tank at AWSM Farms, of Hutton Magna. The leak devastated wildlife in nearby becks.
Durham County Council agreed that a full application was required by Mark Westgath with details of fencing or protective measures at the slurry pit.
