Beccles Airfield objects to anaerobic digester plans

Tim Gallop and Pat Fenn, from Beccles Airfield, say the plans to build an anaerobic digester (AD) less than 100 metres from their runway could make their business "blighted" and "unviable" and have raised strong safety fears.

An application from Privilege Finance to build an AD next to an existing one was thrown out earlier this year after more than 100 people objected to it.

AD plants use organic waste and crops – such as manure or maize – to create biomethane that can be used to produce power.

The earlier plans were thrown out on the grounds of smell and traffic concerns, doubts about how 'green' it is, and its impact on a local council plan.

But now fresh battle lines have been drawn out as the same developer has submitted a new application.

Mr Gallop says that if the development does go ahead and it makes the airfield "unviable" then Privilege Finance, the council's planning department, and the landowners can expect to see him in court as he is not afraid of launching a legal battle.

Mr Gallop said: "If the proposed development blights us, we may be ruled unsafe or unviable to continue with our business here.

"Since we have invested so much into this project we will not be afraid of seeking compensation from the council's planning team, landowners and Privilege Finance and they can expect to see us in court.

"We are central to the community here and have plans for future generations and want to share our passion for aviation to young pilots."

The proposed AD site is the brown ploughed field next to Beccles Aerodrome existing AD is left (Image: Denise Bradley)

A Privilege Finance spokesman said: "We were aware of aviation safety concerns and liaised directly with the aerodrome, including having meetings, to address these concerns.

"In addition, we appointed an independent aviation specialist to conduct an aviation safeguarding assessment which was presented to the Civil Aviation Authority and planning authority.

"We also included test flights over similar facilities which showed no risk to the airfield.

"Although the report found that there was no inherent danger to pilots in the existing
plans, we implemented changes to improve aviation safety further.

"This included altering the layout of the site and moving the taller structures, like
storage tanks, even further away from the runway centreline than before.

"We also made provision for an emergency landing space which provides a safe flat corridor
for aircraft in the event of an unlikely emergency."

But Mr Gallop and Mr Fenn however say they have received no communication or consultation from Privilege Finance.

Partner at Beccles Airfield, Patt Fenn (Image: Denise Bradley)

A plan pictured taking off from the Beccles Airfield runway with the existing AD pictured in the background (Image: Bruno Brown)

Beccles Airfield runs pilot tuition courses at the airfield and its owners say that the plans pose a threat to life for experienced pilots let alone amateur pilots.

They say the 15-metre safety landing strip is "absurd" considering some aircraft's wing spans are larger.

Mr Fenn said: "It is ridiculous, absolutely nonsensical, and absurd to expect in the event of an emergency, for a trainee pilot to be able to land in such a narrow emergency landing strip.

"There are issues of wind shear, turbulence from the new structures, gas venting, birdstrikes, glint and glare issues, let's not forget we had a fatality here nearly two years ago.

"All we want to do, and we hope the planning authority agrees and recognises, is to do anything and everything to minimise the threat to life and increase the safety of flying, which this plan contradicts."

Beccles Airfield was built in 1943 as an American airbase. 

Beccles Aerodrome operator Tim Gallop (Image: Denise Bradley)

Since taking over, Mr Gallop and Mr Fenn have set up a cafe and accommodation and put the  emphasis on transforming the site into a tourism destination with the community at its core.
The Beccles Airfield staff pictured in a hanger (Image: Bruno Brown)

Mr Fenn said: "When the wind is blowing in the right direction we already can smell the horrible stench from the existing AD, residents in Worlingham even can smell it, so building another one will just enhance an already existing issue."

The existing AD site next to Beccles Airfield (Image: Denise Bradley)

The developers argue the power plant is an "exciting opportunity" for Beccles to take the lead as a green community.

The plant could provide renewable gas to more than 7,400 local homes.

Helicopter pilot Phil Speechley and Mid Anglia Light Sport Aviation owner, Pat Fenn (Image: Denise Bradley)