Representation by Metcalf Family (Metcalf Family )
- Date submitted
- 4 September 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
• The proposals will have a significant impact upon the farming business. The land which will be affected is used mainly to graze the dairy herd throughout the summer months, this land cannot just be replaced as it must be close to the farm in order for the cows to walk to the grazing so they can return twice a day to be milked. In addition, once grazed the land has an application of slurry to apply nutrients to get it growing again, the loss of the land will not only hit the grazing side of the business but will also result in the need to erect additional slurry storage facilities to increase storage capacity as they won’t be able to apply slurry to certain field parcels. The loss of the land will result in a large additional cost to the farming business having to purchase additional feed year-round for the dairy enterprise and the additional cost with managing the slurry on the farm. The current plans show that around 80 acres of owned land and a further 42 acres of land which is held on an agricultural holding act tenancy, this total land take totals 122 acres, this equates to 40% of the total land holding of 300 acres farmed. It is also usure as the exact areas which will be required during the construction phase which is likely to be much higher and this will have a further impact upon the farming business. As you can imagine this is of great concern to the Metcalfe Family and will destroy the hugely successful dairy business which has been built up over many years. Thee has been significant investment in the farm steading over recent years including the erection of several sheds, drainage works to fields, the construction of a number of cow tracks and the construction of a lagoon in the centre of the holding. All these will be impacted upon if the scheme goes ahead and many will not be able to be used to the full potential which will result in these being wasted investments. The option to reduce livestock numbers is not a real option, the business has built up the livestock numbers to the level they are today after years of breeding. In addition reducing the cows numbers would automatically see the farming business at a disadvantage, not only would they receive a penalty from there milk buyer but they would be disadvantaged when buying feedstuffs and consumables. • The council have included an accommodation bridge to access some severed land on the northern side of the proposed road, this bridge is welcomed but we would like confirmation as to the weight limit which will be placed upon it and then allowed to comment further. In addition, this bridge is also proposed to carry the diverted public footpath. The proposed diverted footpath running over this area bring significant concerns over the welfare and health and safety of the use of this bridge for walkers and farm traffic/livestock. This land is currently used to graze the dairy herd on with the cows milked and then left to walk to the field to graze and return when they wish. If there is no separation between the public and livestock/vehicles the cows and general public will be using the bridge which will brings serious welfare and safety concerns. We would request that the bridge is extended, and a separate “lane” installed for use by the users of the Public Footpath. • The documents submitted also refer to large area pond on the Metcalf land down next to the school. We enclose a plan showing the suggested alternative location for this pond which we wish to be considered, this area is naturally low lying. • The plans also show a large construction compound and environmental mitigation area, we have no objection to a temporary construction compound but we have enclosed a plan showing an alternative location for the environmental mitigation, if its left in this location it will have a significant impact upon the farming business. • There will be significant dust issues during the construction phase, which will have a large impact upon the steading and agricultural land and the ability to make good quality silage or have good quality grazing land for the dairy cattle. We would request that it be a condition that Highways England employ an Agricultural Liaison Officer for the duration of the build period to monitor this and have direct contact with the Landowners/Agents/Contractor. In addition, a specific condition should be put in place that a dust management plan should be submitted and adhered to prior to the construction works commencing. • The details submitted to date in respect of soil management is limited and further in-depth details are needed in respect of top soil and sub soil stripping, storage methods and measures but in place to ensure that soil is not mixed between landowners when areas are taken on a temporarily basis are returned. These details will need to be submitted prior to the commencement on site and we would request that this is done by way of a condition. We would like the opportunity to review and provide comments on these documents. • The details submitted does not cover the bio security issues in depth and we would request that a condition be placed upon the planning decision (if approved) to cover the method statement to prevent this becoming an issue. We would like the opportunity to review and provide comments on these documents. • The construction and operation of the road will cause significant disturbance to the farming activity not only during the construction phase but during the operational phase of the road. There are serious concerns over the possibility of trespassing and litter problems which will come as a result of the scheme. • The documents submitted makes no reference to the farm’s borehole water supply, the Metcalf Family are very concerned that due to the amount of deep cuttings which will be created nearby that this borehole supply could be impacted upon, in the event it is it will have a huge impact upon the farming business as they rely upon this supply to provide water to all the farm steading. The borehole was installed a number of years ago in an attempt to reduce costs on the farm. • The plans as proposed will see the current high pressure under ground slurry pipe severed which led to the slurry lagoon, this will need diverted over the bridge to ensure the lagoon can be filled up in the same way as before. • There are a number of public footpaths to be diverted we would ask that these are diverted within the highway boundary on not onto land being retained by the Metcalf family.