by James Scott

jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk

Cheers and applause greeted the news that unpopular plans for a biogas plant in Charing had been rejected.
The reaction came from the 100-strong crowd which packed Ashford Borough Council’s chambers in Tannery Lane for last Wednesday’s planning committee meeting.
More than 1,100 people from three villages signed petitions opposing Future Biogas’s proposal for a renewable energy facility off Leacon Lane. The Surrey-based firm, which already has a site in Norwich, wanted to create a plant to convert farmers’ excess maize, whole crop grains and grass into energy.
Charing, Little Chart and Pluckley parish councils, the Weald of Kent Protection Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England objected to the scheme.
Residents’ main concerns were about traffic with further HGV lorries using the narrow lanes between the villages and odour from the plant.
Members voted unanimously in favour of turning down the plans.

Full story in this Thursday's Kentish Express.