Representation by Moulton Parish Council (Moulton Parish Council )
- Date submitted
- 10 March 2022
- Submitted by
- Parish councils
Moulton Parish Council objects to the proposed solar scheme and supports the objections of its neighbours in Freckenham and Worlington. The plans for an array of solar photovoltaic panels and associated battery storage unit are inappropriate for the following reasons: The area of 1,500 hectares is excessive in the rural setting of West Suffolk and East Cambridgeshire. The impact through loss of amenity for the local communities will be long lasting, as will the loss of precious habitat for protected species. During construction communities will be subjected to excess noise and pollution which will be detrimental to the mental and physical well-being of residents. The visual impact cannot be mitigated in the short term. Government has plans to radically increase the generation capacity of offshore windfarms rendering this scale of power plant redundant (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-plans-to-make-uk-world-leader-in-green- energy Turning quality farmland into brownfield sites for 30 years is contrary to the growing need for sustainable food production without reliance on imported produce. This is particularly important at the moment with imports of wheat under threat due to the ongoing situation with Russia and Ukraine, and we are likely to need all the agricultural land available for food production. Local production will also reduce food miles. Storage battery fires are a potential threat to the environment. There is potential to damage archaeological heritage within the site. Proposed ecological mitigations seem to assume the species involved will relocate seamlessly to alternative areas without adverse effects on breeding. It is inappropriate to convert 1,500 hectares of agricultural land within its important rural setting into an industrial landscape. The project is contrary to the Government’s own guidelines on solar energy plants.