Representation by Sandie Geddes
- Date submitted
- 16 March 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I strongly object to the Sunnica proposal on the following grounds: PERMANENT LOSS OF FARMLAND: this is highly productive and versatile farmland growing maize, wheat, potatoes, oats, sugar beet, and livestock on land destined for solar panels. After 40 years it will be brownfield, possibly contaminated. Food security must be increased in a world made unstable by war, climate change and pandemics. INDUSTRIALISATION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE: it will dominate the area, transforming a tranquil agricultural landscape into an industrial power plant, permanently changing its character, and divorcing pre-Domesday villages from their historic settings. NOISE: Site East A is on rising ground to Freckenham: residents will be impacted by noise from BESS air-conditioning units and Inverters, especially in hot weather and at night. BATTERY SIZE & SAFETY: unstable, potentially lethal, lithium-ion technology in mega-scale BESS compounds should not be sited among residential communities. There is no evacuation plan in place or considered. BESS are potential targets for terrorism. LOSS OF VISUAL AMENITY: all of Freckenham’s roads will be adversely affected by acres of glass and industrial infrastructure – there will be no escaping it. Screening will take years to soften its impact but will never be able to hide electrical substations. DESTRUCTION OF U6006. The Icknield Way is an historic trackway and significant recreational amenity; 24 months closure for works traffic, felling of trees and hedgerows for cabling, retention of access rights for maintenance, will change its character forever, adversely effecting its rich wildlife including Stone Curlews, Lapwings, Tawny Owls, and (rare) bats. HEALTH: the importance of exercise in green open spaces was acknowledged as essential for physical and mental well-being during the pandemic; this solace will be denied us by closure of familiar PROWs; temporary ‘permissive paths’ are poor substitutes. DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC LANDSCAPES: to accommodate abnormal loads and construction traffic. CONSTRUCTION & WORKS TRAFFIC: we are working communities, we will be exposed to 24 months of stress and anxiety, chaos and confusion, and risk of accidents on unsuitable roads from increased volumes of traffic. Adverse effect of road closures, extensive diversions, extra fuel costs and journey times on local businesses and services. Safe recreational use of roads and lanes will only on be possible on Sundays. CHALK STREAMS: The three rivers in the scheme support rare fish species, water voles and bats. Poor siting of panels may result in rainwater run-off, flooding, and contamination; boundary fencing may inhibit necessary maintenance. Potential danger of tunnelling beneath streams for cable channels. ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS: are selective and superficial, areas surveyed outside the scheme boundary are of questionable value. ATMOSPHERIC CHANGE: recent academic research has shown that mega solar schemes have significant effect on surrounding temperatures. BENEFIT: no benefit to local communities; Energy Trading will increase costs to the consumer. NEED: Renewable technology is moving rapidly; this scheme is likely to be obsolete long before the end of its 40-year life span. Subsidies should be directed towards roof top solar for use at source, reducing need for battery storage. 495 words