Representation by The Scott Household (The Scott Household)
- Date submitted
- 6 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
We believe the following issues must be given full consideration during the examination process: - the loss of such a vast amount of land currently used as (i) productive agricultural land. Why do we need to commandeer such a large acreage of good Best and Most Versatile land putting future food production at risk? This would appear to fly directly in the face of the government's food strategy. Surely there are more sites available - contaminated land, industrial land, previously developed land or even lower grade agricultural land and (ii) for recreational purposes. At all times of the year we, like very many others, go for walks on the land now designated for this project. The positive impact of walking in the 'wild' cannot be overstated at any time but the positive impact, both for mental and general wellbeing, these walks had during the Covid pandemic just simply cannot be measured. These lengthy walks, we often do a six mile circuit, will just disappear. and (iii) what about the devastating impact on the wildlife, biodiversity and habitats? It is more than obvious that our local wildlife may all but disappear (iv) why put at risk an area famed for its archaeological heritage, some even going back to the prehistoric period. With such archaeological remains deemed to be plentiful in this area why potentially lose these forever or certainly for a number of decades Visual Impact The unprecedented scale of the project, 2,100+ acres, of which more than half, 1,300+ acres comprises the total solar area, just means that the different adverse impacts cannot be screened from view. The beautiful landscape we have at present will be totally changed into an industrial landscape with 560k solar panels 11 feet high, solar stations/shipping containers housing inverters and transformers security fencing and CCTV. Even the new sub-station will be both audible and visible to Essendine residents. Do we actually need a project of this magnitude? Surely somewhere there is better suited land available if we do. Source of Energy Solar is widely recognised as a hugely inefficient source of energy production. Data shows that it only produced 11% of its stated capacity on average in the UK. Indeed in the last year solar only produced 4.6% of all energy in Great Britain. We have solar panels on our roof and believe that is where solar panels should be i.e. where nothing else is sacrificed especially productive agricultural land. Flood Concerns It is painfully obvious that there must be flood concerns for some local villages given the amount of rain that will drip off 560k panels and will need to run off somewhere. Construction Most issues here are so obvious that they do not need to be stated - 2 years of noise, disruption and damage across the 2,100+ acre site; possibility of new cabling running through Essendine on the A1621 requiring compulsory acquisition 'rights'; extensive traffic measures through local villages which simply do not have the infrastructure to cope with up to 1k tonne HGV loads. As the application has no time limit what about the uncertainty for future generations? is the decommissioning funding secure or will there be a solar graveyard when it all shuts down? Developer The developer has no proven background in this area of development so why start with such a massive project? Scrutiny of its expertise, management and supply chains are necessary