Representation by Nigel Gareth Eveleigh
- Date submitted
- 27 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Mallard Pass represents the industrialisation of the countryside. It represents the lamentable absence of joined up thinking in so many areas of government thinking. The use of solar panels has to be applauded, but in the right way and in the right place. This has to be on roofs. Building development ought to be required to incorporate panels in roofs in the same way that insulation standards must be followed. Ever increasing national and global populations must have their food production protected. If grain isn't produced in the UK, it has to be imported using yet more fuel and energy. The landscape of South Kesteven has until now avoided the worst ravages of industrial and housing sprawl. Given the funding of agriculture through recent government reforms. New Farming Policies and Payments in England -updated in July 2022 states that "Food is still the primary purpose of farming" and that "Farmers also play a crucial role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment " such that "... farming and nature can and must go hand in hand". These are genuine and significant open spaces that we have in South Kesteven, which must be protected for the wellbeing of all. Subsidies are being phased out so New Farming Policies tells us, so that "... we can invest the money in farm productivity, the environment, and animal health and welfare". By all means encourage investment in technology and innovation to enable this, but industrialising a rural landscape when there are more beneficial alternatives such as the roofs of new houses- of which there were 38,436 delivered in 2021/22. There would be an even greater acreage if solar panels were put on the roofs of industrial facilities as well. Please, please protect our green spaces! They are under enormous pressure everywhere.