Plans for a north Pembrokeshire anaerobic digester could meet 50 per cent% of a National Park target if approved.

A proposal to install a 500w anaerobic digester at Coedwynog, Felindre Farchog, are due to be considered by planners today, Wednesday.

The system is designed to process 20,000 tonnes of waste a year to produce 500kw of energy , with an input of 12,000 of slurry waste from the herd and 8,000 tonnes of solid waste from the 1,000 -acre dairy farm.

The officers’ report said: “The proposal to install a 500kw anaerobic digester will reduce pollution and the smells associated with slurry spreading from the local area, while generating a significant amount of renewable energy, is itself a form of farm diversification, and the application is considered to be in compliance with local and national policies for sustainable development, and therefore recommended for approval.”

Nevern Community Council has approved the plans, but the authority has received ten letters of objection from neighbouring properties and further afield, including Essex, raising concerns about the size of the digester and the precedent it could set in the area.

Noise, light, increased traffic and potential pollution fears were also forwarded to officers with one objector stayting: “The farm is becoming a commercial power plant rather than a traditional farm.”

If the application is approved, it would provide half the self-set renewable target for anaerobic digestion within the National Park until 2020, and officers say it would have "minimal impact" on the special qualities of the National Park and is "as sensitively located as possible".

Officers state that there may be a "detriment to the residential amenity of the adjacent dwelling", but have recommended approval for the plans, with conditions, saying the application is a "finely balanced" one.

The report added: “On balance, it is considered that the slight impact on residential amenity to a single dwelling is outweighed by the greater environmental benefits offered by the proposal.

The application is due to be considered by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee on Wednesday, September 30.