Representation by Samuel A Croxton
- Date submitted
- 2 March 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I disagree with and oppose this application. Solar farms have a severe negative affect on the local wildlife. Habitat loss: - The construction of a solar farm results in the clearing of large areas of land, which leads to habitat loss for wildlife. Disruption of migration patterns: - Birds, rely on visual cues to navigate during migration. Research has shown that Solar farms often disrupt these visual cues, often causing birds to become disoriented and lose their way. Risk of collision: - Small dear and such animals especially monk jack can run into the panel legs killing or maiming themselves. This can unnaturally attract more predators which change the make up of the local eco systems which can be depleted or destroyed as a consequence. Changes in local temperature and moisture levels: Solar panels create microclimates that are different from the surrounding environment. This can have impacts on local flora and fauna, which may be adapted to specific temperature and moisture conditions. Butterfly and Bee populations are often reduced as they are attracted by the shine of the panels but once they fly over or land on the panels, they are burnt to death. Make up of the countryside: The decimation of attractive country side will be lost forever as even after the panels are taken away chemical traces and small amounts of metal including bolts and washerd will remain in the soil for generations to come and the areas around the sub stations will be even worse. Any remaining wildlife will ingest any matter left behind and be poisoned. Local economy: The local population will be negatively affected as house values will reduce significantly due to the plans. We have already seen purchasers pull out of house sales locally due to the mere possibility of this solar farm being built. The decline in prices will have a negative effect on the tax income of the council as property will be passed over to the rental market with many tenants exempt from council tax payments. (Housing Associations etc) The choice of sites: The proximity to local residents is far too close and the solar farm could very easily be built in many areas across the UK that are far from towns and villages and I think it irresponsible, immoral and dangerous to be built so close to an existing town and several villages. Other solar farms are being built across the EU and they are correctly built away from populations and for good reasons. Why can't the developers look at other countries models and follow a more common sense approach to their plans? The very idea of this solar farm being built and the additional affects it will have suggest foul play and hints at corruption within the local and national planning department as well as the solar panel company.