Back to list Mallard Pass Solar Project

Representation by William Hervey de Gale

Date submitted
12 January 2023
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. The amount of compulsory purchase contemplated appears completely excessive. Any compulsory purchase is deeply suspect in a democracy - if the project requires this much, it is clearly going completely against local opinion and the principles of a free society, and is in effect declaring itself invalid and beyond contemplation. 2. The weight of construction traffic cannot be supported by the Ryhall Road, which already has a horrific accident record and is completely unsuited to HGV traffic. We watch HGVs attempting to pass each other at Tolethorpe Grange, and the resulting damage done to the edge of the road surface means that before long one of them will overturn onto our land. Cars regularly overturn on these corners too, and I understand that two HGV drivers lost their lives in a head-on collision a few years before we arrived. Motorcyclists also come off at the Salters Lane corner. Our daughter needs to ride her horse across this death-road to join her friend to ride on the latter's land immediately to the north. Robert Sharpe has to manoeuvre his sheep on and off the land, which is already challenging. To this would now be added years of heavy construction traffic, and it hardly bears thinking about. 3. Are those new lorries going to be passing Casterton College and the primary school at the start and end of the school day? If so, the entire area will come to a complete halt - it's difficult enough at present! 4. The size of the proposed project and associated loss of prime agricultural land. 5. The suggested risks associated with an accident leading to the combustion of extremely dangerous chemicals at the sub-station. 6. Will there be any loss of the few bridleways in the area?