Representation by Sharon Thompson
- Date submitted
- 17 March 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am against the Sunnica Energy Farm because: - it will be built on food producing, established farmland. With so much instability around the world, not least Russia's atrocious invasion of Ukraine and the ramifications this has worldwide, the UK needs to do everything it can to become more self-sufficient in its food production. We simply cannot afford to lose this land and once it's gone, it's gone. - I am concerned about the fire risks of the battery energy storage compounds in areas close to housing and I feel this needs much more investigation. - the scale of the development is excessive and I am not convinced there is even enough natural sunlight in this area for the solar panels to be effective. - This will be another step towards the gradual industrialisation of the Newmarket area, which will detract irreversibly from its status as the internal home of horseracing. Newmarket's semi-rural environment has helped the Horseracing Industry in the town to thrive for centuries. Thoroughbred racing and breeding are major contributors to the local economy but the continuance of this cannot be taken for granted. - The impact of construction traffic in a rural area (and one already subject to congestion) is a concern. People with more knowledge than me have commented that the transport and access proposals seem inadequate in a number of ways. - The scheme offers no long-term benefit in terms of local employment. - The scheme has a huge carbon footprint and I have read that it will create more carbon in its lifetime than it will save. - It is disappointing that the solar panels and batteries are likely to come from China and I feel clarification is needed on the working conditions of those making them. Any use of slave labour is completely unacceptable.