Representation by Patricia A Mitchell
- Date submitted
- 2 March 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Thursday, 2 March 2023 timed at 20.05 P A Mitchell I submit this as my formal representation to the Planning Inspectorate to become an interested party and my objections (and concerns) in respect of the Mallard Pass proposed solar development are set out below. Including Mallard Pass at 2,105 acres there are now six proposed solar developments which total a gargantuan 15,635 acres of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) and productive farmland in Lincolnshire. Individually they are on such a vast scale they are ALL compelled to be submitted to the Secretary of State for a decision so each one is taken out of the hands of those who represent us, our MPs, the County Council and District councils but most significantly and crucially the residents themselves. Mallard Pass is an industrial scale solar plant inappropriately designed and disproportionate in response to the need for renewable energy. It would be the largest Solar Plant in the UK to date. It will shape, not for the better, the villages and well-being (mental and in turn physical health) of residents and others of Essendine, Carlby, Braceborough, Greatford, Barholm, Uffington, Ryhall and Belmesthorpe and at least another 10 villages and surrounding areas for 30 years (or more) which is not a temporary period of time. Temporary to most of us means fleeting, brief, momentary, short-term. Mallard Pass if constructed, and together with the above five solar developments would become to date in combined Gigawatt (GW) terms the largest PV solar developments with battery storage facilities in the world and taking with it a magnitude of acreage of productive farmland. • Approving solar developments on Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land is short-sighted when the Government doesn’t yet have a focused policy for food security. The UK needs to be more self-reliant and protect our long term food security. The whole Net Zero concept needs urgent rethinking as regards solar power. It is not working for the benefit of the people who live here – and certainly not for those who look after our land – but as my final paragraph mentions instead, seems to favour a more international clientele. • On average the government says 5 acres are used for every 1MW of output from solar energy. • On average, solar can only deliver 11% of its stated output making solar the least efficient of all renewable energy sources. Solar panels do not produce the level of energy when it is most needed in the dark, winter months. As solar energy can only be stored for short periods this makes it an inadequate and unreliable all year round energy source. • I have to question the accuracy of the forecasts of the amount of energy Mallard Pass is able to produce. Any erroneous estimates bring the whole concept of the ‘benefits’ of the project into doubt. Where are the guarantees that Mallard Pass (or any of the proposed solar developments) could reliably fulfil the level of energy stated in their consultations/materials. • There are other emerging technologies such as integrating the functionality of solar into roof tiles. It is unlikely to take 25 years to bring these new innovations to fruition so why eliminate productive farmland for 30 years or more ? • On and off-shore wind is 3-4 times more efficient than solar. Offshore wind has developed apace in recent years and has proved to be a successful and reasonably priced source of energy. • In 2016 there was an estimated 250,000 hectares (617,764 Acres) of south facing commercial roof space in the UK. Enough space to provide around 50% of the UK’s electricity demand. Imagine what the figures are in 2023! • Every step in the production of solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems requires a perpetual input of fossil fuels - for smelting metals from ore, for process heat and power, international transport, and deployment. Silicon smelters, polysilicon refineries, and crystal growers around the world all depend on uninterrupted, 24/7 power that comes mostly from coal. Is solar energy really the best solution for reaching our net zero targets if all these factors are taken into account in the carbon calculation? Solar panels will only last 25-30 years, what is the carbon impact when they have to be replaced from scratch again ? • We know that solar panels currently cannot be recycled and will be sent to landfill for disposal. • Loss of recreational facilities for walkers and others and the effects on people’s mental health and in turn physical health. The daily disruption to the residents and others lives during the construction period combined with the after effects on tourism and business to the area will be immense if the Mallard Pass solar development becomes the landscape. • Land compaction and damage to the environment by the construction vehicles. The world grows 95% of its food in the uppermost layer of soil, making topsoil one of the most important components of our food system. Without topsoil, the earth’s ability to filter water, absorb carbon, and feed people plunges. How can we be guaranteed the applicant or their successors will reinstate the land back into safe food production following de-commissioning and the area is not left to become a solar graveyard ? • Tenant farmers across the country are not only losing their livelihoods, their business and potentially their family homes but opportunities for the next generation of farmers within that family to farm the land. • As solar projects continue to be submitted for development on productive farmland it will ultimately drive up the cost per acre of not only the BMV farmland but also the remaining available agricultural land which can only be negative, damaging and disadvantageous to bringing on board the next generation of young farmers and others who wish to enter farming as a way of life…. they will be priced out of the land and farming market. This will fundamentally change the landscape of farming for ever. • BMV land - as there are concerns over the accuracy of the soil testing methods in determining the quality of the land over the whole site and as it is important to ensure full transparency in this respect it would be judicious for the County Council/District Council to appoint an independent body to carry out their own tests for comparison. • The list of concerns and issues with this planning application are countless. There are Health and Safety issues in abundance concerning lithium-ion batteries and as we were unable to be provided with any re-assuring answers I deem them an unacceptable risk. The batteries are not governed by the Health and Safety Executive, the fires cannot be extinguished by normal routes and the escaping gases are highly toxic and would be life changing if not lethal to any individual and contaminate the soil below. The local Fire Brigade will not have the appropriate training to deal with such an event. There is the over-riding intrusion of CCTV, security fencing preventing wildlife moving freely and people, harm to bio-diversity and eco-systems which may never fully recover. These change the landscape for a lifetime for some. NOTE: It is particularly troubling to learn that [Redacted], one of the two developers for Mallard Pass, has been accused of human rights abuses, particularly concerning Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province of China. Perhaps this is not a GREEN SCHEME after all but an INVESTOR SCHEME ? Solar companies via their literature and during their consultation periods impress upon us they share the common goals and objectives of co-delivering clean and affordable energy and building long-term, sustainable relationships with landowners and communities. However, one example I can reveal illustrates a British company, whose structure is rather complex, is actually a joint venture involving two established solar developers. The latter of these is, according to the firm itself, the customer facing name for a Spanish company – a joint venture between a Spanish and British Company. One part of this Spanish enterprise is a subsidiary of a Swedish Investment vehicle. This will not be a singular event and I would be surprised if the Government was not aware this is happening ? So, when a solar development is officially given the go ahead, there is every possibility it will be sold on to foreign investors. NSIP projects on this scale will be of much interest. How can these companies achieve building any long-term, sustainable, relationships with communities on this basis ? Where is the trust ? The order of this list is not representative of the importance of any one issue nor exhaustive and I reserve the right to add or amend my representations should new information become available. P A Mitchell – Thursday, 2 March 2023