THE applicant behind controversial plans for a renewable energy plant – which were rejected by East Lothian councillors at a meeting last week – has not yet decided whether to appeal the decision.

Nearly 200 members of the public turned up at the specially arranged meeting of East Lothian Council’s planning committee in the Corn Exchange, Haddington, to discuss the planned anaerobic digester, which was proposed for land at Standalane, near Ballencrieff.

And the hall seemed split between those supporting the plans, which were recommended for approval by council officials, and those against them.

But at the end of a four-hour debate on the proposals, the committee voted by 10 votes to six to reject the plans, as concerns over road safety and the loss of prime agricultural land won the argument.

Applicant J Haig Hamilton and Sons wanted to build the plant on just under two hectares of land with a promise of taking crops from local farmers, using them to create renewable electricity and gas, and returning to the farms the by-products of liquid fertilizer and soil conditioner.

Following councillors’ decision to turn down his plans, Mr Haig Hamilton said: “Obviously we’re very disappointed in the outcome of the planning committee, especially after the proposals received such a strong recommendation of support from officers.

“We will want to take time to reflect on the outcome of the meeting before we decide any further steps in relation to our proposals.”

At the meeting last Wednesday, Neil Sutherland, on behalf of the applicant, had told the committee: “Anaerobic digestion is a natural process. It is basically a cow’s stomach. It is not a new technology, in no way is it dangerous and it is not burning crops.”

However, Derek Scott, representing Samantha Henderson, who is planning to build a house on nearby Standalane Steadings, less than 50 metres from the site, warned the committee his client was prepared to take them to a judicial review at the Court of Session if it was given permission.

He said: “I am unequivocally of the view the application should be refused.

“It presents a risk to public safety with slow-moving vehicles. The facility will have a damaging impact on the landscape.”

The proposal included 15 tanks ranging in height from just under six metres to 14 metres, with the largest three having a diameter of 36 metres.

The applicant proposed creating a bund wall, sinking the tanks about two metres below ground level and planting up to 17,000 trees.

They said the plant represented a £15 million investment in the East Lothian economy and already had 30 farms signed up to take up a five-year contract to provide feed.

Local farmer Iain Thomson told the committee he welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the plant.

He said: “I feel genuinely excited by this opportunity to grow a sustainable crop, which will stay here in East Lothian.”

Mr Thomson said 15 per cent of his farm land would be used to grow the rye crop for the plant and the benefits of having the fertilizer by-product returned to the farm would mean a more organic source of nutrients for the soil.

And he said the regular income would benefit those who supply the agricultural industry with equipment and machinery.

John McCallum, representing the No Gas Works East Lothian group, told the committee: “The local residents’ group feels strongly it will remove two hectares of prime agricultural land.”

During the committee debate, Councillor Peter MacKenzie said he had great difficulty making up his mind on the issue but said he would support the plans. He added: “I do believe we are heading towards a very different world in the 21st century. East Lothian agriculture always has been intensive. It is an agriculture industry.”

However, Councillor Tim Day said the size and scale of the plant made it clearly an industrial development.

He said: “I support renewable energy which can be proven to be sustainable, but it has to be in an appropriate location and the benefits must outweigh the negatives – my view is that granting this application would be a mistake.”

Council leader Willie Innes said the planning application had presented one of the most difficult decisions he had dealt with in 30 years of involvement in the process.

He said: “I am going to be voting against the application, but reluctantly. I think it is something that would be of benefit to East Lothian. It is the right [thing], but in the wrong place.”

The council agreed to reject the application by ten votes to six. Voting in support of the application were councillors John McNeil, John Caldwell, Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, Peter MacKenzie, John McMillan and Donald Grant.

Voting to reject the application were councillors Tom Trotter, Stephen Brown, Kenny McLeod, Stuart Currie, Willie Innes, Jim Goodfellow, Norman Hampshire, Tim Day, David Berry, and Jim Gillies.