Representation by Michael Paul Eaton
- Date submitted
- 2 May 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to put forward my views in opposing the scheme proposed by Oaklands Farm Solar Ltd. My main issues are I believe that Oaklands Farm Solar Ltd is just looking to develop this large-scale solar plus energy storage project in our neighbourhood for purely commercial reasons as it will be cheap to connect to the electricity network at nearby Drakelow. They are only interested in building the solar from at Rosliston and Walton -on Trent as the infrastructure is in place. This makes our good quality agricultural land a firm target for investors interested in financial gain at the expense of our countryside and established wildlife habitats. Local farmers may also have their own best interest in mind, as they stand to benefit financially from the solar project and revenue stream. However at what cost to our environment and our natural ecosystem and local people? I am against locating the solar farm at Rosliston as I firmly believe that the proposed location of the site is in an inappropriate place as it will have a significantly harmful impact on our local landscape which comprises rolling good quality farmland and recently created national forest areas. Oaklands Farm Solar Ltd’s case about the benefits to the local community and local landscape is so weak as to be insulting to the local community. The development will destroy good quality farmland, and vast areas of land will need to be cleared, to make way for the panels and battery storage, killing established wildlife and plants. There will be a massive disturbance and harm to wildlife in the adjacent woodland areas which, over the last 25 years, local people and I have worked hard to encourage. I want to protect our countryside, this agricultural land should be used for a combination of producing food and tree planting. Solar panels belong on warehouse rooftops or on brownfield sites. The solar panels will be visually intrusive and create glint an glare issues for residents, road users and birds. I believe that, due to its sheer size, the solar farm will both initially and consistently destroy the local ecosystem with threats to insects, animals and birds that depend on the ecosystem. I live very close to the proposed site and I feel that my and my neighbours health will be at risk from electromagnetic waves that will be produced. I also feel at risk from potential fires from the massive battery storage units. Consideration must be given to the location of the solar farm and storage so close to local villages.