Representation by Mr Paul Westwood
- Date submitted
- 30 April 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Whilst I do support the need for renewable energy but not at a cost of ruining the beautiful British countryside. The National Forest Company with it’s wonderful works, has spent the last 25 years regenerating this area which was scarred by man’s need to generate energy in the not-too-distant past. Are we to make the same mistakes of our forefathers and ruin the natural environment for future generations, leaving our hideous footprint behind us on the world? The project may have a proposed life expectancy of 40 years but myself and many others living locally are unlikely to see this land returned to its natural habitat. The sheer size of this proposal – approx. three times the size of Rosliston, CitE and Lullington put together is totally incongruous to the area and along with other green field land being swallowed up and overrun with both industrial and housing developments permanently destroying the rural environment and undoing the good work of the National Forest Company. Why do we have to locate such monstrous developments on rural green field sites? What is wrong with installing these units on the roof of the numerous industrial and warehousing sites located along the A38 or the other enormous scar on the landscape being built nearby at Acresford / No Man’s Heath. Or even on motorway of railway embankments and cuttings? Surely with a little effort on the part of the developers the rural landscape can be preserved. Rooftop solar farms are viable propositions in other European countries, so why not here in the UK where we have a far greater population density than many other places? And what of when the ‘farm’ when it has run its lifecycle? I believe that at present there is no viable way of disposing of the solar units and the chemicals they contain, although this could change within the next 40 years. Or maybe not! There is no guarantee of this and 40 years is most optimistic anyway. And what of the ‘rested’ farmland on which the site sits? Well, with the land being constantly in shade it would be left in a poor condition lacking in nutrients and overrun with moss. Not really the best for farming, I’m sure!