Representation by Mr J R Herring
- Date submitted
- 16 March 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I object to this development for the following reasons: It involves an unacceptable squandering of our natural resources on this small island in the loss of circa 2,500 acres of greenfield land to house the solar panels and battery storage areas. Recent events in Ukraine as a major grain supplier highlight the need for the UK to retain its own growing areas to feed ourselves. The Uk is only 64% self sufficient in food. The construction would involve substantial quantities of concrete to be laid making the land use change irreversible. Concrete has a very high carbon footprint compared to good quality irrigated farmland currently used for growing vegetables which helps reduce the atmospheric carbon which is causing global warming. The Company behind this project have given no assurances to develop and use UK based suppliers for the solar panels and thereby support UK employment rather than importing these materials from abroad. Solar panel technology is still in the process of development and much more efficient panels will be available in future reducing the need for as much farmland to be sacrificed to achieve the same electricity generation capacity. The project could be squandering money on soon to be obsoleted technology. Alternative sources of low carbon electricity generation are possible without the sacrifice of so much valuable growing land for our future food security.