'Digestion plant plan is a black cloud over town'

The prospect of an anaerobic digestion plant being developed in Suffolk has been described as a "black cloud hanging over" the town where it could be built.

Acorn Bioenergy wants to build the site – which will turn manure and crops into renewable energy – on Spring Grove Farm near Withersfield and Haverhill.

The company said the project would benefit "the business community of Haverhill and the wider community within Suffolk".

Last November, Suffolk County Council deferred the proposal until the firm could provide additional information which, nearly a year on, still has not materialised.

Once the information has been received – which could be in "the coming weeks" – a new consultation will be carried out before the application is reconsidered.

The plant would be fed manure and crops and would produce enough renewable fuel to heat 7,000 homes, contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions.

But the plan has proved controversial with residents who take issue not only with the project itself but also with the amount of time the saga has dragged on for.

Mark Bowman, a member of Muck Off Acorn, a campaign group opposed to the project, said: "When on Earth is someone actually going to say yes or no?

"This is a black cloud hanging over Haverhill and it creates an enormous amount of anxiety with people who know their lives could be turned upside down by this.

"This site is on the doorstep of Haverhill and so it couldn't be in a worse location – traffic will cause disruption and there’s a great fear businesses will leave the town.

"The site is in an area which floods, and the plant itself will produce some unpleasant by-products which will inevitably find their way into the local watercourse.

"There will definitely be an impact on the quality of local life."

Joe Mason, a Suffolk County Council member for Haverhill Cangle, agreed.

"I am not against green initiatives that contribute to creating renewable energy and I am not against anaerobic digesters, but I am very much against this one," he said.

“The residual impact will be profound on local businesses and the nearby community.

“This site is highly likely to regularly emit foul odours that will impact not just people’s lives but local businesses too.

“It would be an appalling way to great people to the area.

"Simply put, this project is the right idea in the wrong location, and I am keen to see this application refused."

There are also fears the plant could eventually be used to dispose of food waste, after councils were told they must offer a food waste collection service by April 2026.

"A food waste plant of that size would be the death knell for the town and it would collapse the town," said Mr Bowman.

In addition to biomethane, the plant will create organic fertiliser which will be returned to farmers to use instead of unsustainable artificial alternatives.

Alister Veitch, head of business development at Acorn Bioenergy, said: "We understand change can be difficult.

"But the reason we liked the site so much is it is very well hidden and we are very close to the A1307, so traffic will have a lesser impact on local people.

"There will be further jobs within the community and we will be relying on local contractors, engineers, plumbers, businesses to help us.

"So, I would say actually this will have a major benefit to the business community of Haverhill and the wider community within Suffolk.

"By the end of 2025, this plant will be very close to being commissioned, and as soon as we have approval we will move forward as quickly as possible with construction.

"This is a major application and it does take time. We are certainly not dragging our feet on this. We want a successful conclusion as quickly as anyone."

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