Representation by Stamford, Bourne and The Deepings Ramblers Group (Stamford, Bourne and The Deepings Ramblers Group)
- Date submitted
- 24 January 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
We are ramblers I represent the Stamford, Bourne and The Deepings Ramblers Group and we use many of the public footpaths and rights of way in the locality. The joy of walking is taking in the beautiful countryside and observing the wildlife; it is a boost to both physical and mental health and the landscape as it exists today, makes walking an enjoyable and therapeutic experience. To be surrounded by solar panels, spanning the views, sometimes on both sides of a path derives no pleasure for the walker. The addition of five miles of extra permissive paths will not compensate for the losses made by building this huge solar farm. Our walkers would not walk in this area if the solar farm is built. We will be driving our cars to areas of natural beauty, unspoiled by solar panels. It is too large The sheer scale of the solar farm 1,052 acres means it is impossible to mitigate the impacts on the landscape character. Much of the countryside is lightly undulating and solar panels of 3.3m high will completely change the landscape character to a more industrial environment of 2,105 acres. It is impossible to discreetly screen a solar farm of this size and doing so where there are supposed to be expansive views would not be the right thing to do. Disruption leads to accidents Closure of PRoWs at various times during construction could be disruptive. Walkers may be forced onto the road in some places which will inevitably be busier with construction traffic and therefore more dangerous. Endangering the Flora and Fauna This project will impact habitats and wildlife corridors will be disrupted by the two-year construction phase. The extensive fencing of the solar areas on the site will disrupt the patterns of the flora and fauna which flies in the face of conservationist campaigns. Are we preserving our environment with this project or destroying it? Is this a green project? No. Future Food Security The War in Ukraine has brought into sharp focus the essential need to feed one’s population. Future food security is essential. To use valuable agricultural land to house solar panels is non-sensical. A land loss of productive agricultural acreage is a bad decision. Solar panels could be placed on the rooftops of newbuilds: new build housing; the huge factory and warehouse rooves which are springing up everywhere plus the adaptations to existing south-facing buildings. We believe the go-ahead of the Mallard project would be a government policy that would be regretted by future governments.