Residents have hit out at proposed changes to a controversial anaerobic digester in Whitchurch.

Whitchurch Biogas Ltd, which runs the AD at Broughall Fields Farm on behalf of Grocontinental, wants to install additional infrastructure and two digestate storage lagoons to the site to improve the management of the facility.

However, it has received objections from residents who say it will increase traffic movements and industrialise the area.

David Bentley, who lives half a mile from the site, said: "We were told the recycle centre would not create adverse odours and this has been proved wrong so the planned lagoons can only accentuate the air pollution problems further.

"Further traffic will be required and even bigger equipment to move the liquid effluent if the permission is granted.

"The site is a total eyesore already and a disgrace to anybody entering Whitchurch from that side of town - surely living in the country we should expect clean air and low light pollution as a given."

Andy Allen, added: "This application, if granted, will lead to more traffic problems and thus more air pollution from diesel particulates, more disruption to homes along the routes and more damage to the road surface."

She added: "When objections were made to the original application, one of the fears was that it would be a toehold for further development outside the development boundary. It appears that was entirely justified.

"I still don't know why the AD was ever licensed, given the proximity of a bore hole and the culverted watercourse running through the site."

Berrys, the agents on behalf of Whitchurch Biogas Ltd, say the additions to the site are not designed to increase feedstock throughput of traffic movements, but only to improve the operational efficiency and improve digestate management.

They add: "The proposals will improve operational efficiency, will increase energy yields with no throughput increase and no increase in traffic movements, will provide an interim use for renewable heat, and will improve digestate management for the benefit of local farmers.

"The increased feedstock and digestate storage available as a result of these proposals will reduce reliance on satellite storage, and will move the site toward self-sufficiency in its storage requirements."

The plant provides electricity to Grocontinental's refrigerated storage facility and will feed into the National Grid.

The AD was first approved in December 2014 despite public protests.