Representation by Trevor Burfield
- Date submitted
- 26 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Loss of Farm Land - Agricultural Land used for growing food should not house a Solar Farm. Best and Most Valuable Farm Land should not be used for anything other than agricultural use, 41% plus of the area of the proposed Solar Farm is Best and Most Valuable Farm Land. Principle - The construction of a 2000 plus acre Solar Farm in a rural agricultural area, with woodland and open fields is not in keeping or appropriate to the look and feel of the local rural environment. Village Environment - Essendine is a small village in a rural agricultural driven (the village has 2 farms within the village boundary) turning 2000 plus acres into an industrial zone is just plain wrong. Overshadowing - The proposed Solar Panels are too high at 3 metres plus and the installation of hundreds of CCTV cameras will negatively affect the people that use the area as an amenity. Disturbance – The two year plus construction period with up to 400 workers per day working six days a week for 12 hours a day will destroy the rural area and the small roads used by many as a local amenity. Overbearing – The scale of the proposed Solar Farm at 2000 plus acres is extraordinarily large with its boundaries stretching for many miles. Layout and Density – the proposed Solar Farm will require approximately 80 shipping container sized buildings to accommodate transformers and container invertors plus additional equipment and technology to manage the site. These buildings will be a visual blot on the landscape and are not in keeping with the rural environment. Human Rights Infringement – The developer states in their DCO submission “The order has the potential to infringe the human rights of persons…” The residents of Essendine are fortunate to have laws in the UK that protect them from Human Rights infringements. The Human Rights laws that protect the people should be maintained and adhered to. Compulsory Acquisition – The developer wishes to compulsory acquire rights over land owned by individuals, business and councils, this just plain wrong. Loss of public and local recreational amenity – The residents of Essendine and the walkers, dog walkers, runners, cycle and horseback riders that frequent the locality and the currently infrequently used, by vehicles, roads as a local amenity will lose the current amenity that is provided by unfenced agriculture fields and hedgerows. During the construction period hundreds of Transit type vans, heavy construction equipment and HGVs will be using these roads with the effect of halting the unfettered access to this great amenity we currently have. Public Rights of way compromised – Existing rights of way will be moved/changed. This is just plain wrong. Biodiversity - Effect on trees/wildlife/nature – the existing biodiversity is extensive and has naturally evolved over thousands of years, the area is home to many wild animals including red kites, badgers and herds of deer that roam freely. This existing biodiversity will be negatively affected with construction, the use of thousands of tonnes of concrete and miles of animal proof fencing to keep the animals away from the solar panels. Destruction of health and wellbeing assets – the residents of Essendine and the wider local population use the area around Essendine as a natural free environment to improve and enhance their health and wellbeing, the construction of the Solar Farm will remove this environmental health improving asset from the arms of the population. The introduction of fenced-in fields, cctv and security lighting will not add any value to the health and wellbeing of the community and in fact will dimmish it. Noise – The developer in their submission states substantial levels of noise will be generated, creation of additional noise is not acceptable to the residents of Essendine. Light Pollution – The develop states the construction period will last for 2 years, 6 days a week, 12 hours a day with up to four hundred workers working on site per day. The winter, autumn, and spring periods (for the working safety of the construction people) will require huge amounts of lighting for long periods of time, creating massive light pollution. Additionally, it is expected when constructed the solar farm will require significant lighting to manage the site in a safe way. Drainage and flood risk – The Solar Farm will be built of 500,000 plus Solar Panels, these panels will be fixed to the ground with enormous amounts of concrete and or drilling stakes into the ground. These fixing methods will disturb the existing rain water management of the land and create potential flooding risks in Essendine and the wider locality. Disturbance – The two year plus construction period with up to 400 workers per day working six days a week for 12 hours a day will destroy the rural area and the small roads used by many as a local amenity. The construction traffic and noise will negatively affect the many walkers, runners, cycle and horseback riders that frequent the locality. Children’s safety will be compromised especially when crossing to enter and or exit the school buses that take them to school. Noise created by the operating plant and equipment (should the Solar Farm be built) will affect the people of Essendine.